Day: June 10, 2023

The Parliamentary Budget Committee chairperson Ndindi Nyoro has said the education sector is set to benefit hugely in the next financial budget.

Speaking as he distributed bursaries for students in boarding schools from his constituency, Nyoro observed that Sh630 billion would be used to cater for various expenditures in the education sector.

Among the funds, which is 30 percent of the money allocated to the national government, Nyoro said Sh10 billion has been allocated for capitation for Junior Secondary schools considering that next year, there would be a new class towards implementation of Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

He said the Higher Education Loans Board (HeLB) would also get an increase from Sh15 billion to a total of Sh30 billion.

The Kiharu MP further observed more money has been allocated in the budget to see 20,000 teachers for secondary and primary schools employed.

‘There will also be money to employ tutors for Technical and vocational training institutes,’ added Nyoro while addressing parents at Mumbi grounds where more than 5, 000 learners benefited with bursary cheques.

He continued, ‘The government is giving education much needed importance since the future of this country will depend on the young people who are currently in school and an educated generation is a bright future for our nation.’

The legislator further praised the Finance Bill 2023 which has gone to second reading in the National Assembly.

He observed that the Finance Bill would reduce the deficit in the budget to about 4 percent saying last financial year, the deficit of the budget was at 8. 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

‘As a government, we are listening to the views of Kenyans. The country is ours and we have to take into consideration views about the Bill and am sure the changes will be factored before the finance bill sails through in Parliament,’ he remarked.

Nyoro said the expected budget to be read in the National Assembly on June 15 would be of Sh3.679 trillion.

Out of the amount, Sh2.3 trillion would be allocated for the national government and another Sh385 billion be set for county governments.

Nyoro explained that money expected to be collected through taxation was Sh2.57 and that raised through Aid in Appropriations (AIA) would be Sh347 billion.

‘The government is expecting to fund the budget also with Sh42 billion from grants. The deficit of the budget will be Sh718 billion. With the proposed Finance Bill, our aim is to reduce borrowing to fund the budget,’ he added.

The lawmaker further said Sh249 billion has been set in the budget to fund completion of ongoing road infrastructure.

‘There are also funds set to complete stalled development projects with some started during Kibaki’s administration like some markets.

‘Sh986 billion is allocated in the budget for Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) to cater for payment of debts and pensions,’ he averred.

Meanwhile, Nyoro underscored Kiharu Masomo Bora scholarship programme which has enabled day scholars in local secondary schools to study for free.

In the programme, a parent is only supposed to pay Sh1000 to cater for remedials with the MP saying that in the next financial year, local NG-CDF would allocate funds to renovate and install tiles to all 60 day-secondary schools within the constituency.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Prof. Peninah Aloo Obudho is the new Acting Vice Chancellor at the Maasai Mara University.

Prof. Obudho took over from Prof. Joseph Chacha who has acted as the vice Chancellor since January 19, 2022 to June 9, 2023.

In a notice to the University staff, students and stakeholders written by the Chairman of the university’s council Dr. Kennedy Ole Kerei, the incoming Prof. Obudho began to perform the functions of the Vice Chancellor with effect from Friday June 9, 2023.

The incoming Acting VC is the immediate former Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics Research and Student Affairs at Karatina University.

She is a professor of Fisheries Ecology and brings a wealth of experience in management, leadership and general operations of the university, read the notice.

The Council chairman thanked the outgoing VC for what he described as exemplary work which made the university grow tremendously in all divisions.

He also congratulated Prof. Obudho on her appointment and wished her success as she assumed the office to execute her duties and responsibilities.

The outgoing VC came in after the ‘Mara Heist’ media coverage that saw the suspension of the then VC Professor Mary Walingo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Egerton University is working on an academic partnership with the University of Nottingham in a move aimed at developing research capacity and sharing facilities as well as expertise through a network of peers.

Through the partnership, the two institutions will exchange students and develop joint scientific and technological research projects, among other things.

Egerton University Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Bernard Aduda, said the purpose of the collaboration is to develop academic cooperation on the basis of equality and reciprocity and to promote relations and mutual understanding between the two universities.

‘The envisaged collaboration spells a bright future for our students and faculty. We are seeking collaboration in areas of joint research activities, and the joint organisation of conferences, workshops, and webinars,’ he explained.

Speaking after holding a meeting with Yash Mahida, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, Prof. Aduda indicated that major areas of collaboration would be medicine and health sciences, among others.

Prof. Mahida’s visit is part of the ongoing collaboration between the United Kingdom and Kenyan institutions through the Kenya UK Health Alliance (KUKHA), which focuses on health matters.

The two shared knowledge and ideas on topics of international importance such as public health, food security and the environment.

Professor Aduda disclosed that to strengthen the partnerships, researchers from the Faculty of Health Science will be appointed to drive the collaboration forward.

The partnership intends to build and increase capacity in doctorate degrees as well as shine a spotlight on the quality of supervision of post-graduate research projects.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor indicated that strengthening supervision of post-graduate research projects will build the capacity to support more candidates to complete their studies.

According to the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Dr Samson Obure the collaboration between the University of Nottingham and Egerton University would advance scientific knowledge, promote innovation, and address healthcare challenges.

‘By leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions, this partnership holds great potential for groundbreaking research in the field of health sciences,’ Dr Obure added.

Professor Mahida said they were exploring a model that will enable PhD Studentships from the two universities to gain access to expertise and build research capacity.

‘We also want to partner with Egerton University, in strengthening our programmes in health sciences,’ stated the Don.

He added ‘The venture is profoundly justifiable as the challenges encountered in PhD studies are alarming, especially the rate of completion within the stipulated time,’

Professor Mahida indicated that University of Nottingham is committed to building international partnerships to nurture global citizenship, engage the global research community and attract talented students and funding.

‘We are seeking partnerships to increase the visibility and reputation of University of Nottingham and its partners in eastern Africa and improve collaboration and knowledge transfer between our institutions for future activities, including research income and funding opportunities, ‘he said.

The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs to the research-intensive Russell Group association.

Source: Kenya News Agency