Every child dreams of what they want to be in the future and deserves to receive a quality education that will help them achieve those dreams. The Kenyan Constitution recognizes basic education as a right that every child has. Though primary education is free in the country, secondary education isn’t and many gifted students from poor backgrounds have been forced to look for cheaper alternatives such as day schools or seek financial support through scholarships so they could attend the school of their dreams.
There are several scholarship programs that are offered by the government and private organizations to help students who perform well academically secure places in the top schools in the country. However, Here’s a list of some of the scholarships available for high school students in Kenya.
Jomo Kenyatta Foundation Scholarship
This foundation was established in 1968 and has helped over 10,000 gifted students from needy backgrounds pursue a high-quality high school education. The scholarship covers tuition fees and uniforms. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Kenyan citizen
- Must have sat for KCPE in the previous year
- Must obtain the minimum set KCPE marks (this varies every year depending on the number of mandatory examinable subjects)
- Be an orphan or from a family suffering extreme poverty
- Be of good discipline
- Be admitted to a public secondary school
You must also provide the following documents:
- A certified copy of the KCPE result slip.
- A copy of form one admission letter/joining instructions
- Evidence of being an orphan or suffering from extreme poverty where applicable.
Go to their website to apply.
Equity’s Wings To Fly Scholarship
Wings To Fly is one of the most competitive high school scholarships available in the country. Hence, the selection criteria are very strict. They only pick students from poor backgrounds who ranked in the top 5 percentile in the primary school leaving examination or at least 350 marks. Applicants can get the application form at any Equity Bank branch, or agent or on their website.
You must provide the following documents:
- KCPE Results Slip (official KNEC slip or signed & stamped paper from the school). For early bird applications, you will be allowed to complete the application form without KCPE marks and Result Slip until submission
- Copy of Death Certificate (if father/mother deceased).
- Evidence of financial support (if they have previously received support).
- Evidence of special needs (if they have indicated special needs).
- Copy of Pay Slip/ Bank Statement (if parents/guardians are employed/business).
- A signed declaration by the Applicant and Parent/Guardian
- Filled application and recommendation form by Head Teacher, Provincial Adm., Religious Leader, and any other. Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview conducted by the selection board.
You can complete the application process online or return the filled form and necessary documents to an Equity agent.
MPESA Foundation Academy Scholarship
The MPESA Academy is one of a kind. It prides itself in offering one of the highest quality education in the region to underprivileged but exceptional students. To qualify, students must demonstrate the following skills:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Analysis and Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Curiosity
- Leadership
Interested applicants must fill out the application form as per the following instructions:
- The application form must be filled out as clearly and completely as possible. Please note that the more information you make available, the better it is for us to evaluate your application. Forms from previous years are not accepted.
- Write your first and last name in capital letters at the top of each page as it appears on your Birth Certificate in case the pages detach.
- All responses MUST be written in the spaces provided within the form and filled by the student applying for the position using his/her own handwriting and words. No extra pages are allowed.
Note: Only Complete Applications are considered and only shortlisted candidates are contacted. Any omission of the above leads to automatic disqualification. All the information provided in the application form will be verified. A form is provided every year when the application process is opened.
Documents required for a successful application include:
- Birth Certificate
- Parent/Guardian ID
- Parent Death Certificate, where applicable
- Academic transcripts/ reports for classes 6 and 7 (if reports for class 8 are available, also submit them.)
- Evidence of leadership and Co-curricular activity certificates
- Pay slip of Parent/Guardian if employed
- Any other document deemed relevant
KTDA National Tea Scholarship
Students who need financial assistance and are within the KTDA Factory catchment areas can apply for this scholarship. The requirements are as follows:
- Be a Kenyan citizen.
- Have sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E) examination in the preceding year in a public primary school that is recognized as such by the Ministry of Education in Kenya and obtained a certain minimum cut-off point which may vary from year to year- usually 350 points.
- Be a boy or girl from a needy family.
- Be from any of the 67 KTDA Tea Factory catchment areas.
They must also provide the following documents:
- A certified copy of the KCPE result slip.
- Relevant recommendation letters as outlined in the application form.
- A copy of birth certificate.
- A copy of Form One admission (whereas the application form can be submitted without this, the candidate MUST provide a copy of Form One joining instructions as soon as available).
- Evidence of being an orphan where applicable.
Applicants should fill out the application form accurately and attach the required documents then submit the application to the Factory Unit Manager at the nearest KTDA Factory.
Hilde Back Education Fund
The Hilde Back Education Fund offers scholarships to needy students, especially from rural areas. They aim to provide young people from disadvantaged communities with both local and international opportunities in education, sports, arts, sciences and technology. It’s a full scholarship which covers tuition for four years. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Kenyan citizen.
- Have sat K.C.P.E. in a public primary school in Githunguri, Kikuyu, Homabay, Kibwezi, Likuyani, Narok, and Tharaka South counties and obtained at least 380 marks.
- Be an orphan or from a needy family.
You must also provide the following documents:
- A certified copy of the KCPE result slip.
- Relevant recommendation letters as outlined in the application form.
- A copy of the birth certificate.
- A copy of Form one-admission letter/joining instructions where available.
- Evidence of being an orphan where applicable.
To apply, you should complete the application form which is available at the HBEF offices in Nairobi and in all the respective county Education offices. Completed application forms and supporting documents should be hand delivered or sent to respective education County offices or the HBEF Nairobi office at the address.
The Director, Hilde Back Education Fund, Haven Court, Block B5, Westlands, P.O. Box 14741-00100, Nairobi.
Elimu Fund
This is another sought-after scholarship as it covers everything that a student will need in high school. This includes tuition, dormitory, uniform, transport, and monthly allowances. It’s also issued annually for four years based on the beneficiary’s performance. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- attained a minimum grade of “B” in their KCPE examination
- must have been admitted to a secondary school (public or private).
The applicant must also submit the following documents:
- an application form,
- a copy of their exam slip,
- three letters of recommendation from the school principal, the area chief, and/or other community members in responsible positions for instance, religious leaders, or NGO members, and an essay explaining how the scholarship will be useful to the applicant.
Go to their website to apply.
Maderia Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by the Akili Dada Initiative and is meant to support female students who are already enrolled in high school and are in need of financial assistance. The beneficiary must be recommended by their principal. Other requirements include:
- Must be a girl
- Must have achieved a minimum of 425 marks out of 500
- Must be from a poor family
Applicants must write an essay explaining their family background, the challenges they face in continuing their education and their goals for the future. They must also submit a letter of reference from local authorities such as a Head Teacher, Chief, Education Officer, or Pastor or Imam confirming the family’s financial background.
After researching the applicant’s background, an Akili Dada personnel will invite the applicant for an interview and the board members will then determine the successful applicants.
Once successful, beneficiaries must meet certain requirements to maintain the scholarship. They include:
- The recipient must maintain a high level of academic performance. She must maintain a passing mark of at least 50% of possible points at the end of each school term.
- The recipient is required to perform a minimum of 30 hours of community service per year.
- At the culmination of each school term, each recipient is required to write a minimum two-page self-reflective essay.
- Actively participate in mentoring activities as planned and organized by Akili Dada and agreed to by the school administration.
- Pictures of the students will be used for fundraising and marketing purposes.
Palmhouse Foundation Scholarship
This foundation awards scholarships to students who attend poorly equipped rural schools in the country and are financially needy due to unique circumstances such as:
- Loss of one or both parents through disease, and especially AIDS;
- Loss of one or both parents through ethnic or politically instigated clashes;
- Family instability where one parent has squandered the resources available to the family separated or divorced leaving the children virtually destitute;
- Loss of employment, especially through retrenchment and where the parents had no savings, guidance in investing their terminal benefits or social safety net;
- Single mothers overwhelmed by the demands of bringing up a family;
- Neglect by other family members and relatives who appear to have limited means;
- Landlessness, poor land productivity, and just abject poverty.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be admitted to a National School irrespective of KCPE score or to an Extra-County School and score over 370 marks
- Be from a needy and deserving background
They also need to submit the following documents:
- A copy of their Secondary School Admission Letter or a download from the MOE website if this has not been received
- An original and a copy of the Result Slip
- A copy of their Birth Certificate
Go to their website to apply.
Co-operative Bank Scholarship
Co-operative Banks select around 600 gifted but needy students from different counties to benefit from their scholarship scheme. The scholarship covers all expenses for all four years. Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Students must have qualified with a minimum of 350 points in the standard eight final examinations.
- Students must be from a needy family that is unable to support secondary education.
- At least one of the parents of the student must be or have been a member of a Co-operative society.
- Orphans will be eligible provided at least one of the deceased parents was a member of a Co-operative Society.
- Sponsorship is open for both public and private secondary schools.
They must also submit the following documents:
- Result slip
- Copy of birth certificate
- Form 1 admission, including fee structure
- A brief statement indicating why the nominee/family is deemed needy and the Co-operative Society with which the parent(s) is/ were associated.
- Any other document (e.g. payslip, death certificate, etc) which may aid the process.
You can apply through the Sacco if you’re a member and have a bank account with Co-op Bank. You can also apply through the County Government’s office (office of education).
Kenya Community Development Foundation Scholarships
Through its partners, this foundation provides full and partial scholarships to students who are in need of financial support to pursue their secondary school education or those who are already enrolled in secondary school and need financial support. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:
- Students should consistently exhibit academic excellence – attaining marks, not below 300 or at least a grade C
- The student must have been admitted to a registered/accredited public secondary school
- The student should be either orphaned or destitute or the parents/guardian of the student should be unable to cover the required school fees due to extreme poverty
- The student must exhibit good behaviour both before and after receiving the scholarship
- For the students who are due to join form one, the student must have attained a minimum of 320 marks for girls and 350 for boys out of the required 500 in KCPE
- The student should not be receiving funding for tuition and boarding from any organization
Go to their website to apply.