Chiforomodo Reacts to Bursary Claims

Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Education Mangale Chiforomodo has dismissed media reports that the county bursary program was being implemented selectively. Reacting to a news report aired in one of the national TV stations claiming that some students from Kwale County who have qualified to join national schools were denied bursaries, Chiforomodo rubbished the report terming it as untrue, malicious and politically fabricated.

Kwale High Principal Festus Sombo receiving a cheque.

The report had also claimed that a parent from Kinango sub county Mzee Chale Ndaikwa had collapsed at Kingwede Girls Secondary School in Msambweni sub county after his child was denied bursary.

"The Kwale County bursary under the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative started by Governor Salim Mvurya and his Deputy Fatuma Achani in 2013 is given purely on merit. There is absolutely no favoritism whatsoever," said the County Executive Committee Member. 

Chiforomodo explains that the bursary allocation is strictly implemented in accordance to the Bursary Act, and it is carried out at ward levels by selected bursary committees. 

Currently, the County Government of Kwale is sponsoring over 3050 students in various national schools across the country, and 1440 others in various universities.

When contacted by the Kwale Focus for his comments on the aired news that he collapsed because his child was denied bursary,  Mr Ndaikwa said that he was shocked. "I collapsed at Kingwede Girls Secondary School just because of my long time sickness and I was taken to Msambweni Referral Hospital for treatment. I have been sick for some time and I sometimes collapse even at home." He explained.  He added that the said child at Kingwede Girls Secondary School is in fact sponsored by the Vakaart Foundation and is not under the county bursary program.  "I have a child at Mpeketoni Secondary School in Lamu County who gets full sponsorship from the County Government of Kwale. But this one at Kingwede Girls Secondary School is being sponsored by Vakaart." He added.

Mama Ngina Girls Principal Mrs. Bilashaka receiving a cheq.

The Principals of Kwale High School Festus Sombo Mdzomba,  Matuga Girls Mrs. Hellen Machuka and Mama Ngina Girls Mrs. Mwanamisi Omar Bilashaka condemned the report, saying that the Kwale bursary program has benefited many students from the County.  

"About half of the students in my school are from Kwale County and they receive 100 per cent bursary from Governor Mvurya's government. 


Trying to poke holes on such a noble initiative is not only very sad but its sinful," said Mrs Machuka of Matuga Girls.