Concerns have emerged over the handling of bursaries meant for vulnerable learners after a new audit revealed major weaknesses in how Sh1.8 billion under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund was shared, with woman representatives now facing tough questions.
The assessment by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu paints a troubling picture of how the fund has been run over the financial years between 2021-22 and 2024-25. It shows delays in releasing funds, unfair distribution, and a lack of proper checks, raising fears that many deserving students were left without support.
The bursary programme was designed to help learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, including orphans, persons with disabilities, children from low-income families, women, and survivors of gender-based violence. Despite this, the audit shows that the funds did not consistently reach those they were meant to support.
County committees, which are largely led by woman representatives, were found to have played a key role in the gaps identified. The report indicates that these teams did not manage the allocation process in a fair and balanced way.
It was also established that there was no proper system to confirm the financial need of applicants. “County committees relied primarily on submitted application forms without adequate verification of need,” the audit report read.
This lack of checks meant that the amount awarded to students was not guided by clear criteria. Instead, decisions were based on the level of school or the judgement of the committees. “As a result, award amounts varied, did not consistently align with fee balances or the prescribed thresholds, leading to fee underpayment and overpayment,” the report reads.
The audit highlights cases where students with fee balances of Sh20,000 and above received only Sh3,000 to Sh5,000, leaving large portions unpaid. At the same time, some beneficiaries were given more than their actual school fee requirements, even as others who qualified did not receive any support.
In the counties reviewed, including Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Makueni and Kilifi, 290 students were underfunded while 44 received excess allocations.
The review further uncovered serious issues in the application process. Out of 307 forms examined, 197 were not properly completed. In addition, 162 applicants out of 296 still received bursaries despite missing key documents such as fee statements, birth certificates, or proof of parents’ death.
The absence of a clear vetting guide was also flagged, leaving committees without a standard way of assessing applications. At the same time, the teams were working within very tight timelines, often given just three days to process payments.
Delays in releasing funds from the National Treasury were identified as the main reason behind the rushed approvals. “As a result, fairness and transparency in the allocation process were compromised,” Gathungu said.
She warned that the current system makes it difficult to confirm whether the funds are reaching the most needy learners.
To improve the situation, the Auditor General has proposed the creation of a unified bursary system. She urged the Ministry of Education to work with Parliament to bring together all public bursary providers under one framework.
The recommendation also calls for the establishment of a central system for issuing and managing bursaries to ensure better oversight and proper targeting of beneficiaries.
