By Eric Omwombo
Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo has asked school Principals not to doubt his government over bursary funds as that is already cash and it shall be electrically wired to the school accounts.
Orengo pleaded with Principals not to interfere or send home continuing students who benefitted from the Siaya County Bursary kitty.
The Governor undertook to make direct calls to Principals to confirm whether funds meant to facilitate the education of bright and needy students is released.
Orengo spoke while disbursing a further KES 9 million bursary meant for North, South and West Uyoma.
An additional KES 7.6 million bursary was disbursed to students in South and North Sakwa.
Under the astute leadership of Governor Orengo, the bursary fund has been increased from KES 75 to KES 110 million.
“The era of ghost beneficiaries is gone,” said the Governor, adding “When we hold such exercises in the Wards it bespeaks accountability for beneficiaries as you all know each other.”
Orengo urged students to make good of the bursary, study hard and post impressive results that matches the value of money spent on them.
“Education is an equalizer. It can transform one from grass to grace. You now have equal opportunity to prove yourselves. I want to encourage students to work hard. You can have best teachers, equipment and laboratories but if you do not work hard, you won’t succeed in life.”
He also said: “Let beneficiaries of this bursary scheme make me proud so that when we disburse the next bursary we will have a story to tell Kenyans. That story will be of success and that the performance posted by your school has gone up.”
The Education Executive Committee Member in the County Government Dr Edgar Otumba said he is committed towards supporting initiatives that would see students retained in school.
Meanwhile, as he addressed a crowd in Okella area of Uyoma Governor Orengo said he had found Siaya without a single factory but will see to it that the Nyalore admininistration sets up income generating enterprises that employ the people of Siaya.
Governor Orengo said his budget was going to focus on flagship projects with quick impact and return.
The Governor said his government will thrive in the establishment of factories that will absorb the numerous educated but idle youth in the county.
Orengo was accompanied by Education Executive Dr Edgar Otumba, Tourism and Culture Executive Anjeline Oduor, County Secretary Joseph Ogutu, MCAs, Justus Oguta (West Uyoma), Obiero Otare (Siaya township) and Booker Bonyo among others .
“Other counties are thriving in terms of development due to existence of cash crops. Am happy to announce that in my one year in office we have bought and set up a KES 60 million Rice Milling factory in Siriwo Alego-Usonga which will start operating this February. It’s a visible project that will transform Siaya economically and in Uyoma, Rarieda sub-County we are going to invest in a cotton ginnery.”
“I will work closely with local MCAs in sourcing a budget that will see a state-of-art ginnery set up here. In Luanda K’Otieno we already have a fish landing site that has consumed KES 150 million to set up. We are now looking for a strategic investor that will partner with us and BMUs to get it operational.”
The Governor said: “We want fish from Luanda K’Otieno to leave the beach when packed and ready for local and international markets.”
The MCAs lauded Orengo’s leadership saying that with elaborate development plans put in place the only outcome was socio-economic issues thriving.
“We have no doubt with Orengo’s leadership in fact we will support him for ten years so as to actualize the development plans,” said former aspirant for Gem Constituency Booker Bonyo.
Siaya Township MCA Mr. Obiero Otare weighed in with his wisdom, saying: “Changing leaders after every five years disrupts development programs and so giving Orengo ten years is just logical and will see projects started get completed.”
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