Overview
Constituency and ward bursary funds are allocated by elected representatives to support poor students' access to secondary education. These funds are meant to be distributed to students meeting poverty criteria. However, bursaries are systematically diverted to political supporters, given to students from wealthy families with connections, and stolen by officials. The corruption undermines the stated goal of reducing educational inequality.
Allocation Mechanisms
Bursary funds are allocated by the constituency MP and managed by constituency offices or bursary committees. The process typically involves: (1) announcement of available funds, (2) application by students, (3) vetting by a committee, (4) fund disbursement.
In theory, poverty criteria should determine allocation. In practice, political connections determine allocation.
Political Patronage
MPs and their associates use bursary funds to reward political supporters. A supporter's children receive bursaries despite not meeting poverty criteria. Opposition supporters' children are denied despite meeting criteria.
The bursary system becomes a patronage mechanism where political loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished.
Ward Development Funds
In addition to constituency-level bursaries, devolution created ward development funds that can be allocated to bursaries. Ward administrators and politicians control these funds and similarly allocate them based on political connections rather than need.
The multiplication of bursary sources at multiple administrative levels (national, county, constituency, ward) creates multiple opportunities for corruption.
Fund Diversion
Officials managing bursary funds sometimes embezzle directly. A fund meant for student bursaries is transferred to a private account controlled by a government official. The official then allocates small portions to favored students while keeping most of the fund.
Inflated Allocations
Some bursary committees allocate funds at inflated amounts. A student is allocated KES 30,000 but the student only needs KES 10,000 for actual school costs. The student receives the full allocation, the school receives payment for legitimate costs, and the remaining KES 20,000 is shared among committee members.
Inequality Impact
The corruption means that the poorest students (those without political connections) often do not receive bursaries even though they meet poverty criteria. Meanwhile, students from wealthier families with political connections receive bursaries despite not meeting criteria.
This reproduces inequality: students from poor families lack resources to attend secondary school while resources meant for them are diverted to wealthier students.
Ghost Beneficiaries
Some bursary committees allocate funds to students who do not exist or do not attend school. Funds are transferred and then divided among committee members. The students exist only on paper.
Verification Failures
Oversight of bursary allocation is weak. County education officers are supposed to verify that allocated funds actually reach students. However, verification is inconsistent and often does not occur.
Without verification, corruption persists and grows.