The future of hundreds of needy learners in Bomet County has been thrown into uncertainty after the Senate suspended several county-run education initiatives, citing non-compliance with national laws and policy frameworks.
In a letter addressed to Governor Hillary Barchok, the Senate Standing Committee on Education directed the immediate suspension of bursary and scholarship schemes, the “Maziwa ya Barchok” school feeding programme, and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) infrastructure projects. The committee argued that the county had overstepped its mandate and failed to align the initiatives with existing legislative and policy standards.
“The unilateral establishment of this program without proper consultation or adherence to established guidelines raises questions about its sustainability and compliance with legal requirements,” said Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye. “The committee, therefore, directs that this program be discontinued forthwith until such time as it can be reviewed and harmonized with national policies on school feeding programs.”
Additionally, the Senate faulted the county for building ECDE classrooms on donated land, including church premises and private property, warning that the practice compromised the safety, quality, and standardization of learning environments. The committee instructed that all learners in such facilities be moved to designated mother schools, and that resources be redirected to the construction of permanent classrooms on public land.
The Senate further noted that bursary and scholarship programmes fall outside the devolved functions of county governments. Consequently, it ordered an immediate halt to these initiatives and called for the reallocation of funds toward improving school infrastructure. Governor Barchok has been instructed to submit, within seven days, a detailed list of all bursary and scholarship beneficiaries and a comprehensive report outlining steps his administration has taken to comply with the Senate’s directives.
However, Governor Barchok has pushed back against the Senate’s move, defending the county’s support for learners and accusing national institutions of politicizing children’s futures. “We support the president’s assertion that our children neither belong to the national nor county government, and that they all deserve an equal chance in life, their economic background notwithstanding,” Barchok stated. “As leaders, we all have a huge responsibility bestowed on our shoulders to support every child achieve their dreams.”
“The rights of our children should not be overlooked in the name of ensuring compliance with the law,” Barchok said during a press address on Tuesday. “It is our responsibility as parents and leaders to ensure that each and every child is given a chance at a better life.” He maintained that county bursaries and feeding programmes were part of social support systems rather than a duplication of national functions.
“To us as a county, supporting education is not about taking over national duties—this is social support. It is our responsibility to secure the lives of our people,” he added. “I want to assure these children that we will do everything it takes to give them a better future.”
Barchok further criticized the Senate’s decision, saying, “It is quite sad and unfortunate that some of our leaders have chosen to play politics with the lives of our children, some of whom don’t even have parents, nor guardians.
Such decisions do not only hurt these innocent kids, but also put their lives in jeopardy.” He highlighted the success of the county’s efforts, noting, “For the avoidance of doubt, we have over 1,000 students spread across the 25 wards in Bomet County, under our full scholarship program. We are delighted that over 80% of those students who have sat their KCSE have performed exemplarily well and have transitioned to university. They are on course to achieve their dreams just like the rest of their peers.”
The governor also emphasized transparency in the programme’s administration. “For the record, we followed the due process in administering the funds and we thank the County Assembly of Bomet for appropriating the funds,” he said. “It is our hope that, going forward, these selfish leaders shelve their political interests for the sake of these children.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Barchok led a consultative forum at Bomet Green Stadium with stakeholders in the education sector, including beneficiaries of the scholarship programme, their parents, leaders, and members of the public. “We brought them up to speed and charted the way forward on the directive that we stop the program,” he explained. During the event, he also rewarded 19 students from last year’s cohort who attained mean grades of A- (5) and B+ (14), underscoring the programme’s impact.
The directive comes amid growing concern from parents and education stakeholders over the fate of more than 1,000 learners who depend on county bursaries and scholarships to stay in school. As the back-and-forth between the county and national government plays out, pressure continues to mount on both levels of government to find a legal and sustainable solution that will safeguard access to education for vulnerable learners in Bomet County.
