Orengo Swamps Siaya with Karo Mashinani Bursary Initiative

By George Adeya

The curtain fell yesterday Thursday 8 February 2024 on Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo’s unique bursary disbursement scheme that saw him traverse all the 30 Wards in the County.

The Karo Mashinani program saw Governor Orengo interact one-on-one with students in 30 Wards of Siaya County. Photo: George Adeya

In the process, the “Karo Mashinani” caravan disbursed KES 110 Million to 13,081 continuing students and 5,000 Form One students.

The scheme was unique in that Governor James Orengo personally gave out the cheques at the grassroots level directly to beneficiaries weeding out any malpractice and corruption claims.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We went down to the ground and shook hands with the parent and student,” said Governor Orengo, adding “There was no room for favouritism or ghost beneficiaries.”

And indeed it has been a month full of movement as the Governor’s motorcade passes one market centre after another throughout the breath of Siaya.

On the last day of the disbursement, the Governor took in Sigomre Ward in Ugunja Constituency, and East and West Asembo Wards in Rarieda Constituency consequently bringing down the curtain on the bursary launch in all the 30 Wards within Siaya County.

As the caravan transversed the width and breadth of Siaya County what conspicuously stood out was the overwhelming demand for bursaries among the many vulnerable cases in our schools.

In his speech to parents, guardians, teachers and students across the county Governor Orengo underscored the Nyalore administration’s commitment to progressively increase the allocation for bursaries in subsequent budgets to cater for the ever ballooning demand for bursaries.

Photo collage by George Adeya

With the increment of this year’s bursary allocation from KES 75 million to 110 million a total of 13,081 continuing students and 5,000 Form One students benefitted. The Governor noted the need to increase the allocation volume in the next budget.

Despite earlier criticism, James Aggrey Bob Orengo seems to be working on a blueprint and is systematically implementing a well-thought-out development agenda for Siaya County.