Bursary Delay Resolved as National, County Governments Sign Agreements
President William Ruto has announced the resolution of a long-standing standoff that delayed the disbursement of bursary funds, following the signing of structured agreements between the national government and all 47 county administrations.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, during the UDA National Governing Council meeting on Monday, January 26, President Ruto said consultations involving the Controller of Budget, county governments, and key stakeholders had successfully addressed governance and accountability concerns surrounding bursary management.
The President explained that while bursaries constitutionally fall under the mandate of the national government, collaboration with counties was essential to ensure effective and transparent distribution at the grassroots level.
“We have resolved the matter. The process of bursaries will now be actualised since the agreement between the national government and county governments has been concluded,” President Ruto said.
He added that the finalisation of the agreements clears the way for the Controller of Budget to approve the release of funds to county governments, enabling the rollout of the bursary programme across the country.
“We have resolved that now the process of bursaries be actualised as the agreement between the national and county government has been concluded,” he reiterated.
The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty after county governments raised concerns over delays in accessing bursary funds, particularly for secondary school and tertiary institution students. The standoff stemmed from differing interpretations of roles between the national government and counties.
Previously, the Controller of Budget had maintained that bursaries for tertiary institutions were a national government function, a position that counties contested, arguing that devolved units were better placed to identify deserving learners at the local level.
The dispute prompted President Ruto to direct the Ministry of Education to work closely with the Council of Governors to develop a framework that would resolve the impasse and allow learners to access financial support without further delays.
The President further noted that counties had been empowered through the County Allocation of Revenue Act of 2025, which he assented to earlier this year. The Act increased the equitable share allocated to counties to KSh 415 billion, giving devolved units greater financial capacity to design and implement local programmes, including education support initiatives.
With the agreements now concluded, counties are awaiting formal approval from the Controller of Budget to begin disbursing the funds to beneficiaries. Education stakeholders have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the funds will reach learners in time to prevent disruptions to schooling.
Officials familiar with the process say counties are expected to move swiftly to operationalise the bursary disbursement once approval is granted, prioritising vulnerable learners in secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
The resolution marks a significant step in easing tensions between the two levels of government and restoring confidence in the bursary programme, which supports thousands of students nationwide each year.
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Bursary Delay Resolved as National, County Governments Sign Agreements
