Garissa students shortchanged in Elimu program, MP Ummulkheir says
Nominated MP Ummulkheir Harun has ignited a firestorm of protest against the distribution of the Ministry of Education's Elimu scholarship program, accusing it of unfairness towards students from Garissa sub-counties.
Nominated MP Ummulkheir Harun has ignited a firestorm of protest against the distribution of the Ministry of Education's Elimu scholarship program, accusing it of unfairness towards students from Garissa sub-counties.
Ummulkheir's primary concern revolves around the discrepancy in scholarship allocation. "It's baffling," she stated, "that a sub-county with 200 KCPE graduates only receives 2 slots, while institutions like Equity Bank scholarships offer up to 70."
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This disparity, she argues, disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities already reeling from the effects of drought and floods in Northeastern Kenya. Ummulkheir blames the scholarship's disbursement criteria for "sabotaging the education rights of children in the region."
The pattern of allocation, with nearly all sub-counties receiving just 2 slots, sparks further suspicion. "This raises serious questions," Ummulkheir asserts, "particularly when compared to the more equitable distribution of the Elimu program last year."
Ummulkheir directs her frustration towards the Ministry of Education and its leadership, urging Cabinet Secretary Ezekial Machogu to "consider the plight of the most vulnerable communities" and ensure they are not further marginalized by educational inequities.
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