BY MANUEL ODENY

Migori senator aspirant in the 2027 general elections Gad Awuonda has called on government to streamline bursaries.

Awuonda said the recent standoff between Controller of Budget and county governments over issuance of bursaries in high schools and colleges should be an eye opener.

While counties are only mandated to support ECDE and village polytechnics, governors have been issuing bursaries to cadres left by national government.

“The standoff seen by governors is because as politicians we love political mileage and need to be seen as helping wananchi, that is why governors will not let it go,” Awuonda said.

He said while all bursaries are government funds offered by state officers, issuance often causes favouritism and corruption.

“The strategy of issuing of bursaries only help office holders who are keen to gain mileage, that is what should be checked,” he said.

He said individually he has no problem with governors issuing bursaries.

“What we need is how we streamline on the process to ensure those who deserve benefit and the process is not marred by corruption,” he added.

He was speaking to the press over the phone.

He said it was still early to start cmpaigniing against Migori senator Eddy Oketch and still gives him time to deliver.

“It is the people who will judge him at the ballot based on his scorecard, it is the same people I will seek mandate from to lead them in the next polls,” he said.