Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi capped off a successful three-day disbursement of Westlands National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursary cheques on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) in Gigiri. The event marked the culmination of Wanyonyi’s effort to personally supervise the issuance of bursaries to beneficiary secondary and college students in his constituency’s five wards.
During his remarks, Wanyonyi criticized the failed leadership in Nairobi, emphasizing the need for reform and integrity within the city’s administration. He pledged to address ongoing issues, including corruption, academic fraud, and vandalism, should he become the governor of Nairobi in 2027.
“Karura is home, and I feel at home here,” Wanyonyi said, acknowledging the support he has received from the constituency since he became the Westlands MP in 2013. He promised to bring significant changes to Nairobi if elected as governor. “When I go to City Hall as the governor of Nairobi in 2027, you will stand to benefit from more goodies. For bursaries, for instance, we will increase the allocations to high school from KES 5,000 to KES 20,000,” he announced to the crowd at KTTC.
Tackling Corruption and Academic Fraud
Wanyonyi spoke strongly against the corruption and academic fraud rampant in Nairobi’s governance. He highlighted reports of fake academic documents among government officials and called for replacing them with qualified youth. He also addressed the issue of vandalism in Githogoro estate, where water pipes were being tampered with by cartels who resell water at inflated prices. “I have asked the authorities to open up the blocked pipes for the people to access the water. If those cartels are not dealt with today, we will lead people in removing them,” Wanyonyi asserted.
NG-CDF’s Impact on Education
The Westlands MP’s commitment to education was evident as he distributed the final set of bursary cheques in Karura ward. A total of 5,000 secondary bursary cheques, each valued at KES 5,000, and 1,500 college bursary cheques were distributed across Mountain View, Kangemi, Parklands, Kitisuru, and Karura wards.
Several NG-CDF committee members spoke at the event, praising Wanyonyi for his commitment to education and community development. Josephat Ngaira, speaking on behalf of committee chairperson Frida Lenayasa, who was absent due to illness, noted that Wanyonyi fulfilled his promise to increase bursary allocations from 600 secondary beneficiaries to 1,000 and doubled college bursaries from 150 to 300.
Rebecca Balongo, another committee member, echoed Wanyonyi’s sentiments about the importance of education, urging parents to bring receipts after using the bursary cheques to ensure accountability.
Testimonials and Personal Stories
The event also included testimonials from beneficiaries and community members. Josephat Momanyi, a Ruaka resident, shared that his daughter Zainabu Momanyi had graduated from Laikipia University with the help of the NG-CDF bursaries. Lineka Bwire from Gachie thanked Wanyonyi for donating a wheelchair to her father, who is admitted at Kikuyu Hospital.
Wanyonyi’s Vision for Nairobi
As Wanyonyi’s speech transitioned to broader topics, he discussed his support for Raila Odinga, leader of the Opposition Azimio Coalition and ODM Party, who is vying for the position of African Union Chairman. He urged ODM members to prepare for upcoming elections and emphasized that his party would remain strong even if Odinga takes on a new role.
In closing, Wanyonyi reiterated his commitment to reforming Nairobi’s leadership and encouraged youth to use social media responsibly. His emphasis on education, integrity, and accountability underscores his vision for a better Nairobi, with the NG-CDF bursary program serving as a foundation for broader change.
