Elimu Bora Na Ombaka: A Holistic Push to Transform Education in Siaya County

Siaya County Women Representative Dr. Christine Ombaka has sparked renewed hope for learners across the county through the Elimu Bora Na Ombaka initiative, held at Siaya National Polytechnic in the heart of Siaya Town.

The event brought together hundreds of students, educators, parents, and local leaders in a powerful show of unity and shared purpose. Far from a symbolic gathering, the initiative marked a decisive step in Dr. Ombaka’s ongoing commitment to improving access to quality education for children from vulnerable households across all wards of Siaya County.

From the lakeside communities of Bondo to the fertile interiors of Ugenya and Alego Usonga, the programme addressed the realities faced by many families struggling with poverty, water insecurity, and limited access to guidance and opportunity. Through a carefully structured, multi-pronged approach—combining bursary support, the installation of 6,000-litre water tanks in needy schools, and an intensive mentorship forum—the initiative offered practical solutions to long-standing educational barriers.

At the core of Elimu Bora Na Ombaka were bursary disbursements aimed at easing the financial pressure that often forces learners out of school. For families dependent on small-scale farming, fishing, or informal trade, the cost of secondary and post-secondary education remains prohibitive. Dr. Ombaka’s targeted bursaries prioritized orphans, learners from widow-headed households, and children from low-income families, restoring their ability to remain in school and pursue higher aspirations. Beyond financial relief, the support sent a clear message that every child’s potential matters and deserves investment.

This focus aligns with Dr. Ombaka’s broader advocacy for the empowerment of women, youth, and widows through savings groups, skills development, and access to opportunity. By complementing existing public funding mechanisms and filling critical gaps, the initiative enhances equity in education. For beneficiaries, the impact is life-changing—opening pathways to vocational training, university education, and sustainable careers capable of breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Equally transformative was the installation of 6,000-litre water tanks in selected schools. Water insecurity remains a silent but significant challenge in many parts of Siaya, disrupting learning and affecting school attendance. Pupils, particularly girls, often lose valuable class time fetching water or suffer from health-related absenteeism due to poor sanitation. The new rainwater-harvesting tanks now support handwashing facilities, school feeding programmes, and kitchen gardens, improving hygiene, nutrition, and overall well-being. These interventions strengthen schools as safe, resilient learning environments and exemplify the promise of devolution—local solutions tailored to local needs.

The day’s activities culminated in an inspiring mentorship session led by Prof. Hazel Miseda of Great Lakes University. Through an interactive and practical forum, learners were guided on personal development, ethical leadership, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and career planning. Drawing from real-world experience, the mentorship bridged the gap between academic learning and life beyond the classroom. For many participants, the session marked a turning point, shifting mindsets from limitation to possibility and igniting confidence in their own potential.

What sets Elimu Bora Na Ombaka apart is the synergy between its components. Financial support keeps learners in school, water infrastructure safeguards healthy learning conditions, and mentorship provides direction and purpose. Together, these elements form a holistic model of educational empowerment with far-reaching social and economic returns.

Dr. Christine Ombaka’s leadership reflects the essence of people-centered governance—grounded in evidence, accountability, and compassion. As plans take shape to scale the initiative through partnerships, structured follow-up, and expanded countywide coverage, Elimu Bora Na Ombaka stands as a compelling blueprint for how focused, responsive leadership can transform education and unlock the promise of an entire generation.

In classrooms kept open, schools made healthier, and minds newly inspired, the legacy of Elimu Bora Na Ombaka is already taking root—one learner, one school, and one community at a time.