By Alex Maina
On 7th May 2026, the day had finally arrived for the people of Kiplombe Ward in Turbo Constituency. Other wards had already received their bursaries in the previous days, and now it was Kiplombe’s turn. From early morning, parents, students, and residents gathered at Kaplelach Primary School where the bursary distribution exercise was taking place. Families arrived with school fee statements and documents, each hoping for support to ease the burden of education costs.
The bursary program under the National Government Constituencies Development Fund continues to play a key role in supporting education across Turbo Constituency. For many households, it has become an important lifeline, especially at a time when the cost of schooling continues to rise and many families struggle to meet basic needs alongside education expenses.
Speaking during the exercise, Janet Sitienei reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that education remains accessible to all children in the constituency. She noted that the number of bursary applicants continues to grow every year, reflecting the economic pressure faced by many families. She emphasized that the NG-CDF bursary program prioritizes needy and vulnerable learners and that efforts are ongoing to improve fairness, transparency, and reach so that more students can benefit.
Among the beneficiaries was a parent, Jeremiah Chege, who expressed his gratitude after receiving support. He explained that paying school fees had become a major challenge for his household, and at times his child had been sent home due to arrears. He said the bursary had brought relief, allowing his child to return to school and continue learning with fewer interruptions. According to him, even partial support makes a meaningful difference to families who are struggling to balance daily needs and education costs.
A member of BUDA CBO, Kevin Kibore, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the importance of the bursary program within the community. He explained that he understands its value personally because his own children have benefited from bursary support in their education journey. He noted that the assistance has helped many families in Turbo Constituency keep their children in school during difficult financial periods. Kevin added that the program has reduced school dropout cases and strengthened hope among parents and students. He encouraged continued support and expansion of the bursary program so that more children in need can benefit.
As the exercise came to a close, families slowly left Kaplelach Primary School with a sense of relief and renewed hope. While challenges in funding remain, the bursary distribution once again demonstrated the important role the NG-CDF program plays in supporting education and keeping the dreams of many children in Kiplombe Ward alive
