Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale now wants all bursary allocations stripped from politicians and taken to the Ministry of Education to guarantee free education for all.

Speaking during a funeral in Malinya on Saturday, June 21, Khalwale said the current system is flawed, with bursaries often issued selectively to benefit a few.

He argued that taking these funds to the ministry would ensure that all students have equal access to free education from primary to secondary level, as was the case during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.

“Pesa ya bursary itoke kwa mikono ya governor, MCA, na MP yote iwekwe pamoja irudi kwa ministry tukue na elimu ya bure kama wakati wa Kibaki,” Khalwale said.

According to Khalwale, stripping bursaries from politicians and channelling the allocations to the national government is the only way to achieve truly free and fair education for all Kenyan children.

The senator urged President William Ruto to intervene and implement the change, emphasising that free and fair access to education should be a priority for every Kenyan child.

“Kwa sababu bursary is selective, we want education to be free, and I want to appeal to President William Ruto, ambaye ni rafiki yangu. Jibu ni hio hio ambayo unasikia katika seneti kwamba tuondoe bursary na pesa yote irudi wizara. Tunataka education to be free from primary hadi secondary school,” Khwalwale added

Similar view

In the past, other Kenyan leaders have also called for the stripping of bursaries from politicians and the consolidation of these funds under the Ministry of Education to support free education.

On September 15, 2024, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula emphasised that proper management of bursary funds could enable universal free education from primary to university level.

Similarly, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, on June 17, 2025, urged the government to clear Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans and provide free education across all levels, stressing the need to eliminate financial barriers for learners.

Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei, on December 4, 2024, also supported merging bursary and HELB funds to ensure all Kenyan children access free education.

Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, on May 2, 2025, introduced a motion in the National Assembly to streamline all education bursaries, including those managed by MPs and governors, into a single fund to support free and compulsory basic education. An ad hoc committee was tasked with developing a legal framework within 90 days.

However, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, on April 25, 2025, opposed the centralisation of bursary funds, arguing that stripping MPs and MCAs of the mandate would delay support for needy students. He insisted that local leaders should retain control to ensure timely access to assistance.