The government is set to roll out scholarships for needy and orphaned learners through the Presidential Bursary Programme at the start of the 2026 academic calendar, in a move aimed at cushioning vulnerable families against the rising cost of education.
Speaking on Friday during a dialogue with professionals from Kisumu West Sub-county, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Welfare Services in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, CPA Carren Achieng’ Ageng’o, said funds will be released in January 2026 to cover school fees for beneficiaries under the Presidential Bursary Programme, alongside cash transfers for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs).
Ageng’o said the government will also continue issuing a monthly cash transfer of at least KSh2,000 to parents or guardians caring for needy children, noting that the support helps families prepare learners for school by meeting food and non-food expenses.
“Under the Ministry of Children, we run the Presidential Bursary Programme for orphans. Some students have been benefiting, and we are now reviewing the process. In January, we will release the funds. We also provide KSh2,000 to parents or guardians living with needy children to help them prepare for school reopening,” Ageng’o said.
The PS called on professionals in Kisumu West to collaborate in creating employment opportunities for young people, noting that youths make up about 50 per cent of Kenya’s population. She said job creation remains the most effective way to curb insecurity and crime.
She further urged professionals to support environmental conservation by initiating tree-planting programmes, encouraging youths to establish tree nurseries as an income-generating activity aligned with the government’s green agenda.
Ageng’o also rallied the community to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA), revealing that about 47 per cent of eligible residents have so far enrolled. She appealed to professionals to assist vulnerable groups, including widows, who may be unable to pay the registration fees immediately, describing SHA as a reliable health insurance scheme that enables access to medical care without incurring out-of-pocket expenses.
During the forum, the PS distributed foodstuffs to widows as a gesture of solidarity during the festive season and announced plans to establish an ICT hub at HOLO Centre to support youth innovation and skills development.
Ageng’o expressed gratitude to President William Ruto, saying the broad-based government was focused on inclusivity and development. She said the engagement in Kisumu West was meant to help residents understand the importance of the broad-based government, adding that local women had endorsed President Ruto’s bid for a second term.
“We are grateful for the broad-based government. Bringing people together here is to help them understand its importance. Women in Kisumu West are happy and have endorsed President William Ruto for a second term,” she said.
Luo Council of Elders Organising Secretary Jotham Ajiki praised President Ruto for appointing Ageng’o as Principal Secretary, terming the move a sign of gender sensitivity. He said projects discussed during the forum were youth-focused and announced the council’s support for the President’s re-election.
Ajiki, however, urged elders to play a greater role in mentoring young people through programmes aired on radio and television to instil values and good conduct among future leaders.
“I thank President William Ruto for choosing our own as Principal Secretary. We are happy he is gender sensitive. The projects highlighted here will benefit the youth, and elders must help guide upcoming leaders through media engagements,” Ajiki said.
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Elisha Jack Oraro, who hails from Kisumu West, echoed the PS’s sentiments, saying the forum focused on leveraging professionalism to advance youth empowerment and socio-economic development in the sub-county.
Oraro said professionals had encouraged youths to register for national identity cards and voter cards ahead of the upcoming elections, urging full civic participation. He pledged continued support for the national government, describing Ageng’o’s appointment as a milestone for Kisumu West.
“The county government has always worked with the national government. Any law that comes to my table to benefit Kisumu West, I am ready to support,” Oraro said.
