APHIA PLUS WESTERN KENYA PARTNERS WITH COUNTY TO SUPPORT EDUCATION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Homa Bay government has received sh.26.56 Million from Aphia
Plus to pay school fees for 2,764 Orphaned and Vulnerable
Children (OVCs).
This is part of USAID contribution to Homa Bay county government
towards education. The County Government acknowledges
APHIAplus Western Kenya for their support to various County
Departments. The County government has strived to improve
access to quality education for the needy by establishing bursary
fund managed by a fund committee as required by law and has
since dispersed Sh60million across all 40 wards. Each ward
received Sh1.5million bursary for needy students, with a total of
11,624 beneficiaries who received a minimum of Sh5,000.
Governor Cyprian Awiti appealed to the organization to continue
with the program of supporting orphans and asked them to renew
their contract with the sponsors.
He applauded the organization for its support, saying the ever
increasing number of orphaned children is posing a challenge to
the county government.
The county deputy Governor Hamilton Orata said the county
government had given out Sh 40 million to support the education of
orphans and vulnerable children with each ward getting
Sh1.5million.
Orata further assured Aphia plus director that they are going to
utilize the funds prudently to enable 2,141 vulnerable children
access quality education.
He challenged the organization to avail the list of CBO’S they are
collaborating with in the implementation of the program to the
county government for close monitoring and supervision.
Dr. Michael Audo, the director APHIAplus in charge of both
Western and Nyanza regions said his organization has been
helping over 2141 needy children in the county annually to enable
them access quality education.
The director said Homa Bay county has been supporting 46, 228
orphaned children which translates to 25 per cent of 190,000 the
total number of vulnerable children the NGO was assisting in both
Nyanza and Western regions.
He said they are supporting vulnerable children through 16
community based organization who are working within the county.
Present were Ms. Eunice Owino the chief officer in charge of
education who urged the beneficiaries to work hard while in school
to enable the financier offer support to other needy students. Other
prominent guests included Transport & Infrastructure executive
member Hon. Nicholas K’oriko, Chief Officer for Water and
Environment Marlyn Agwa, MCAs Sam Okumu and Omuga, Homa
Bay High school Principal Andrew Buop among others.