By  Reuben Olita, Busia
Eight thousand one hundred and twenty-five students from Teso North Sub County on Friday benefited from NG-CDF Bursary cheques for the Financial Year 2023/2024. This was 40 per cent of total CDF disbursement for the last financial year.
Teso North Member of Parliament Oku Kaunya, who presided over the issuance of cheques at Kakapel Community Centre in Angurai South Ward on Monday, said 8125 students including those in secondary schools, universities, tertiary colleges were recipients of the disbursements worth Ksh40.375m.
The MP said, “Apart from normal Bursary allocations of Ksh5,000 given to each student, total orphans were paid full fees through top ups. A total of 1092 students in tertiary colleges received 5.460m.
A total of 5176 secondary school students received Ksh25.880m, while 250 students from special schools received a total of Ksh1m.
Hon Kaunya told principals to write acknowledgement letters after receiving their cheques, noting that Auditors have raised queries to facilitate verification of written cheques remitted to various learning institutions.
“These members should keep the executive to account and ensure equitable distribution of resources. It appears they are compromising with the executive instead of making noise,” ~said kaunya
St Thomas Amagoro Girls was the largest in disbursements with Ksh2.15m and special needs of Ksh16,000. S.A Aboloi Secondary was second with 2.065m with special needs of Ksh28,000.
Moding was third with Ksh2.020m and Ksh28,000 special needs. Others in thar order included St Benard Kakurikit (Ksh1680m), Achiya Echakara (1.455m), Albert Ekirapa (Ksh 1.325m), Kolanya Boys (Ksh1.365m), Katakwa (Ksh1260m),Kocholia (1.185m) and Chamasiri (1080m).
Kaunya lauded Teso North for emerging the top sub county in 2023 KCSE in the country and being ranked number 2 nationally, noting that this was exemplary performance.
The MP called for cooperation among leaders and the Iteso Cultural Union to bring development, noting that the community will not realize any development without cordial relationships.
Hon Kaunya thanked the national government for the Ksh5m donation to Chamasiri TTI, and Ksh100million ongoing construction of the four storeyed building at KMTC Teso Campus that will accommodate an administration block, two skills laboratories, and lecture rooms among others, noting that it will improve infrastructural development at the institution.
Hon Kaunya lamented that no single development had been initiated by Governor Dr Paul Otuoma’s administration since taking over the mantle of leadership in August 2022, calling for a paragdim shift to the unfortunate scenario.
Kaunya noted that Malaba Border was the biggest revenue earner, accounting for 76% of the cargo that passes through the border town destined for the Great Lakes region of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo and Southern Sudan and yet residents are not benefiting.
The MP blamed the local members of the county assembly over laxity in their its oversight roles to ensure the executive discharged its duties in line with the constitution of Kenya 2010.
Kaunya said the former Governor Sospeter Ojaamong allocated Ksh25m to MCAs to go towards Ward Development Projects compared to Dr Otuoma’s paltry Ksh8m and yet the current legislators have remained mum, over the unfolding scenario.
” These members should keep the executive to account and ensure equitable distribution of resources. It appears they are compromising with the executive instead of making noise,” he said.
Teso North Sub County Director of Education Elizabeth Marangach said the region which broke 10 years of mediocre performance in 2023 KCSE was no mean an achievement and thanked students, parents, teachers, and all education stakeholders for that exemplary show.
Ms. Marangach said the Sub county was not left behind in sports talents with Salvation Army Kolanya Girls National School emerging regional champions in the science Congress to qualify for the national festivals. She also thanked St Thomas Amagoro for another magnificent performance in sports and Teso North for being picked to host the schools census.
Busia County Assembly Water Committee chairman Isaac Wamalwa thanked Hon Kaunya for his record- breaking feat, predicting that he will repeat the same unmatchable success in 2027 or go for a bigger position.
