The county government of Kakamega will soon launch its Ksh180 million bursary to assist learners in its 60 wards.

The Kakamega Governor, Fernandez Barasa, while attending the homecoming ceremony of his County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Social Services, Youth, Sports, Gender, Culture and Library Services, CPA Jackline Masicha Kakayi, at Shihome Primary Grounds in South Kabras Ward, Malava, announced that the bursary funds were finally out after a long wait and that each ward will receive Ksh3 million to boost the education of needy and bright learners.

Barasa said the kitty was long overdue and its disbursement will cushion parents from the school fees burden. He added that he has also instructed contractors to speed up completion of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres within the county to allow more enrolment of new learners.

His announcement comes days after his administration, through the Social Services docket, distributed beddings to special needs schools within the county.

While handing over blankets and mattresses to Malava Special School within Friends Malava Primary School, the Director of Culture, Gaudencia Otipa, said the county government was committed to equipping special needs schools to enable the learners to access education like normal children. She called on parents to support the county government leadership to see their children benefit more, as Governor Barasa was committed to supporting education programmes across the county.

The school head teacher, Evans Mmera, while receiving the beddings, acknowledged the good gesture from the governor, noting that it will go a long way in solving the sleeping challenge the learners have been experiencing.

“We have received 14 mattresses and 28 blankets from the county government of Kakamega, and this will enable our learners to sleep comfortably. We are urging the governor to continue extending his hand of help to us since we have many challenges in the unit,” he said.

He indicated that the special unit at the school was lacking space for both learning and sleeping, considering that the learners had various disabilities and needed some separation.

“These learners have different challenges, and we also offer different courses depending on their abilities. Hence, we need more classrooms and also sleeping space to enable them to have their peace of mind,” he observed.

Mmera further thanked both the National Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, who pledged to construct one classroom, and Presidential aide Farouk Kibet, who gave out Ksh1 million to put up another classroom for the unit. He hailed Governor Barasa for the donation and encouraged parents to enrol their disabled children at the unit.

The Board of Management Chairman, Aggrey Busiega, said with the support being offered to the unit, the school will be able to train, examine and certify the learners.

He said the learners had the potential to compete effectively with normal pupils if they are supported by being taken to school.

He applauded the governor for setting up an ECDE unit at the school and said they will continue to partner with the county for the betterment of the learners.

The Sub-County Special Needs Officer, Levina Smart, said it was time for the special needs learners to be fully assisted by giving them equal opportunities as normal pupils through offering them courses suited to their abilities, including knitting, sewing, tailoring, carpentry, among others, that will enable them to be self-sustainable.

The Kakamega County People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) representative, Lucy Mulombi, said her office will continue supporting special needs learners at all levels.

She said the governor had mandated her to scout for more partners besides the county to give more assistance to PLWDs within the county.

Mulombi cited that seats for learners were still a challenge among many who are disadvantaged and urged parents to work hand in hand with the county government to ensure the learners have a conducive learning environment.

“Disability is our business and we have to ensure that we receive the best, and that is why through our initiative we approached Farouk Kibet to assist us. Together with the Speaker, they gave us classrooms, and we shall continue to seek more support to better our learning environment,” she concluded.