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Gakuya warns against merging all bursaries into one national fund
29th July, 2025 08:56 AM
Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has expressed reservations in regard to the push to merge all education bursaries into one national fund to make education free in Kenya.
Speaking to a local TV station on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the outspoken lawmaker who supports former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned that such a move could open doors to corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
Why it is not the solution
Gakuya said taking money from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, county bursaries, and other education support programmes and placing it under a single fund does not automatically mean education will be free for all.
“Taking NG CDF funds meant for education bursaries and channelling it to one fund does not mean that the government will provide a fully free basic education” Gakuya said.
The MP questioned the real motive behind the proposed merger, suggesting that the government could be planning to use the education money for other unrelated projects without proper public oversight.
“I suspect the Government want to use money meant to fund free basic education in another hidden project”, Gakuya added.
Mismanagement of funds
He expressed concern that centralising bursary management under one national office would make it harder for students in poor communities to access timely support. Gakuya said the current system allows local leaders to respond quickly to the needs of their people.
The MP also warned that past experiences have shown that large government-controlled funds are more prone to looting and political interference. He urged the government to focus on improving the existing systems rather than creating new ones that could become targets for misuse.
“This idea may sound good in theory, but in practice it will hurt the poor students we are trying to help” he said.
Gakuya joins other leaders who have recently spoken out against the planned merger, urging Parliament to resist any changes that would weaken grassroots support for learners.
So far, the Ministry of Education has not given a clear plan on how the proposed national bursary fund would operate.
