Murang’a and Mandera counties have become the first devolved units in Kenya to officially assume control over student bursary administration, following the signing of a landmark Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement (IPA) with the Ministry of Education.
The historic deal, signed at Jogoo House in Nairobi, transfers the bursary function from the national government to the two counties. This move comes after a prolonged standoff that saw billions of shillings in bursary funds frozen by the Controller of Budget, who previously maintained that the responsibility for bursary disbursement lay solely with the national government.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba lauded the agreement as a key milestone in advancing the spirit of devolution and promoting inclusive education. “This agreement reflects our commitment to strengthen intergovernmental relations and ensure that no child is left behind due to financial constraints,” said CS Ogamba. He emphasized that empowering counties to manage bursaries would bring services closer to the people and improve responsiveness to local needs.
Murang’a Governor Dr. Irungu Kang’ata welcomed the development, describing it as a long-overdue resolution to a bureaucratic impasse. He also confirmed that Murang’a County would withdraw a contempt of court case filed against Controller of Budget Dr. Agnes Nyakango, which had stemmed from the bursary funding dispute. “This partnership ends a long-standing impasse and will now enable us to directly support students in our county without legal uncertainty,” said Kang’ata.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif echoed these sentiments, stating that the devolution of bursary administration will boost transparency, accountability, and efficiency in reaching deserving students. “This is a win for our learners and for county governments committed to delivering services directly to the people,” he noted.
The agreement is expected to serve as a blueprint for other counties interested in similar arrangements, setting a new precedent in intergovernmental collaboration. As Kenya continues to refine the devolution framework, this development marks a turning point in national-county relations in the education sector and offers hope for more equitable access to education funding across the country.
