Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has sharply criticized former Attorney General Justin Muturi’s call to abolish the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursaries, defending the program as a critical lifeline for students in economically challenged regions.
Speaking at Mazingira Day celebrations on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Gituburi Primary School in Mbeere North, Embu County, Ruku dismissed Muturi’s claims that the bursaries fail to reach all students as “misleading” and out of touch.
Ruku, a former MP for Mbeere North, emphasized that during his tenure, every student who applied for NG-CDF bursary support in the constituency received aid. He argued that the program significantly eases the financial burden of school fees, particularly in semi-arid areas like Mbeere, where economic hardship is prevalent.
“It is only people like him, who do not have children in school, that fail to understand what parents are going through,” Ruku said, cautioning that scrapping the fund would jeopardize educational access for thousands nationwide.
Muturi, a former National Assembly Speaker, recently argued that the bursary system is inefficient, failing to equitably distribute funds. Ruku countered by highlighting the program’s impact on vulnerable households, enabling uninterrupted education for children in Mbeere and beyond. He also took aim at Muturi’s allies in the opposition, accusing them of undermining local development projects, including the Gikuyari–Kiriì–Ishiara road tender.
During the event, Ruku pivoted to environmental concerns, aligning with this year’s Mazingira Day theme of citizen-centric tree growing. He led officials, students, and residents in planting drought-resistant indigenous trees, promoting water harvesting technologies like rooftop catchments and community dams. Ruku urged residents to support President William Ruto’s goal of planting 15 billion trees, framing it as a patriotic duty that fosters job creation and climate resilience.
Analysts note that Ruku’s remarks carry political weight ahead of the Mbeere North by-election, where he endorsed UDA candidate Leonard Wamuthende while warning against candidates opposing NG-CDF. The debate over the bursary program is likely to intensify as Kenya balances educational funding with fiscal reforms.