Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has unveiled a radical legislative proposal to centralize secondary school funding, terming the current constituency-based bursary model a "discriminatory lottery" that disenfranchises millions of poor students.

In a direct challenge to the status quo, the budget committee chairman argues that the fragmented bursary system has failed the test of equity. He is proposing a consolidated "National Education Kitty" worth KSh 30 billion annually—a war chest he believes will finally deliver the elusive dream of truly free day secondary education for every Kenyan child, regardless of their political patronage.

The Mathematics of Equality

"We are operating a system where a child's education depends on the benevolence of their MP or Governor," Nyoro stated during a heated public forum in Mombasa. "This is not charity; it is a constitutional right. Why should a student in Kiharu receive KSh 10,000 while one in a marginalized county gets nothing? We are baking inequality into our future."

The MP's proposal is built on a specific tripartite funding structure designed to bypass bureaucratic red tape:

• CDF Contribution: A mandatory deduction of KSh 10 billion from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
• Devolved Support: A matching KSh 10 billion slice from the County Governments' equitable share.
• Treasury Top-Up: An additional KSh 10 billion direct injection from the National Treasury.

"Decentralized Corruption"

The proposal comes amidst a growing national outcry over the opacity of bursary disbursements. Investigations have revealed that in some constituencies, bursary forms are used as political loyalty pledge cards, with opposition supporters systematically weeded out. By centralizing the fund, Nyoro argues, the "human element" of bias is removed, replaced by a capitation model that follows the student, not the voter.

However, the move is likely to face stiff resistance from MPs who view the CDF bursary kitty as their most potent tool for grassroots mobilization. Stripping them of this control is akin to political disarmament.

The Cost of Ignorance

Data from the Ministry of Education paints a grim picture of the current landscape. Despite the "100% Transition" policy, retention rates are plummeting as hidden costs—lunch fees, remedial levies, and uniform markups—push students out of class. Nyoro’s plan includes a ring-fenced allocation for school feeding programs, acknowledging that "you cannot teach a hungry child."

"We must choose," Nyoro concluded, his tone grave. "Do we want powerful MPs with overflowing patronage kitties, or do we want an educated citizenry? I have made my choice. The question is, will Parliament have the courage to follow?"