Kakamega County Government has confirmed entering an intergovernmental partnership with the national government to facilitate the issuance of bursaries and scholarships. Governor Fernandes Barasa stated that the agreement was signed on May 19, 2025, and took effect on June 1, 2025. The deal provides a framework for the limited transfer of education function elements from the national to the county level specifically for managing bursaries and scholarships.
In a gazette notice dated January 16, Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa announced that the county government signed the agreement with the national government's Ministry of Education. The arrangement covers primary, special education, secondary, university, and tertiary institutions. It seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in handling bursaries and scholarships, while also enabling resource sharing between county and national governments in the education sector.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that pursuant to the provisions of Article 187 of the Constitution of Kenya, sections 6, 34, and 36 of the County Governments Act, section 26 of The Intergovernmental Relations Act, the National Government through the Ministry of Education and the County Government of Kakamega have entered into an intergovernmental partnership agreement," the notice stated.
The agreement can be amended at any time by mutual consent of both parties, with changes required to be in writing and effective upon execution. Original copies are available for inspection at the Ministry of Education headquarters and the Kakamega County Attorney's office.
This announcement follows a similar one from Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff three weeks earlier, via a gazette notice dated February 6. That agreement, signed on January 15, aims to promote resource sharing in education delivery and ensure equitable access to quality, inclusive education, according to the governor.