The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) has disbursed Ksh. 4.8 million to cater for bursaries and economic empowerment of various groups in Marsabit County.
NGAAF patron and Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo spearheaded the distribution exercise at Loiyangalani and Saku sub counties.
During the launch, 24 youth and women groups got Ksh 100,000 each, with books and 100 water tanks distributed to various schools.
Another 206 students from different public secondary schools in Mandera have been selected to receive bursaries worth Ksh 2.4M.
Speaking during the issuance of cheques to school principals, Naomi expressed her confidence that the selected beneficiaries will utilize the fund and concentrate on their studies to register good grades.
While receiving their cheques, education stakeholders pleaded with the MP to closely work with the school management to identify genuine bright needy students for consideration during disbursement of NGAAF Bursary funds.
Halima Adan Sora, a principal at Moi Girls secondary school lauded efforts by various entities aimed at boosting education standard and call to action to create synergy for seamless exercise in future.
“We see light at the end of the tunnel and such gestures should never go unnoticed for the generations to come to see, witness and conquer,” she said.
The principal equally requested provision of sanitary pads for all girls’ schools in the county.
Ali Jillo from Marsabit Boys Secondary school added, “We need to work together in order to make sure that no needy student is left out. In some cases, we have realized a number of them are left out either by default or design; whichever the case, no deserving case should be left un attended.”
Naomi noted their concerns saying her effort to distribute bursary and distributed textbooks to schools aims to ignite their passion for education.
“We are here in Marsabit to officially distribute NGAAF funds to help our people to boost their morale and keep up with their daily hustle. The amount might be small, but to the needy persons or groups; it goes a long way in their empowerment effort.”
She added, “the future holds so much promise for these young minds and I am confident with the right education and support, they will transform into empowered individuals who make meaningful contributions in our society.”
Naomi brushed off criticism from a section of politicians claiming her office disbursed little amount compared to what her colleagues are doing in various counties.
“I only work with real figures from the NGAAF kitty and no amount of badmouthing my leadership will drag me into unnecessary scuffles with busybodies. The only competition I welcome is about real development for our people,” she said.
Deputy county commissioner David Saruni acknowledged NGAAF’s effort saying the local administration is proud to associate itself with such programs aimed at uplifting peoples’ livelihood.
DC Saruni, however challenged the authorities to mop up registers with beneficiaries data to avoid duplication in a scenario where one or two beneficiaries are repeatedly being issued with bursary locking out other deserving cases.
Naomi fired warning shots to the leadership of youth and women groups against embezzlement of the fund meant to provide an avenue for promotion of enterprise and value addition initiatives.
Plastic water tanks will also be distributed to schools and religious institutions like churches and mosques to help them store water ahead of the November-December El-Nino rains.
“It is disheartening to witness pupils lugging small cans of water to schools, and this initiative aims to ease their burden and provide a storage facility for a better learning environment,” the Woman MP said.
Naomi, who is also the deputy majority chief whip in the National Assembly promised to source for more resources from various gov’t parastatals and non-state actors to boost their effort at grass root level in the county.
“This fund is one of the gov’ts initiatives anchored on vision 2030 development blueprint under social pillar to address the plight of vulnerable groups by reducing poverty and inequality through enhanced financial access and mismanaging it will be an injustice to the beneficiaries,” she said.
NGAAF fund was anchored in Kenya law in February 2015 to focus on key programs like bursary, civic education, nurturing talents, value addition projects and table banking to provide economic empowerment support to women, youth, elderly and persons living with disability.
