The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization emphasizes the importance of education in combating poverty (UNESCO).
According to the United Nations, education is critical for escaping chronic poverty and preventing poverty from being passed down through generations.
Education is a critical component of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda. The Head of State has repeatedly challenged relevant ministries to put in place strong mechanisms to protect Kenyan youth’s scientific ideas, projects, and innovations.
The Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) was also introduced to help students keep up with a rapidly changing world marked by remarkable advances in science and technology.
The government funds public institutions that provide students with opportunities for tertiary education. TVETs were also incorporated into the education sector to provide learners with relevant and adequate skills.
Nonetheless, due to the inability to raise school fees and other emoluments, several candidates in Kenya miss out on advancing to secondary and tertiary levels.
Some foundations fill the void by providing scholarships to deserving students.
Some foundations have a set of criteria that the child must meet in order to be fully or partially sponsored.
Top 10 Foundations Offering Full Sponsorship To KCSE, KCPE Candidates After Exams
1. The Kengen Foundation
Kengen, a state-owned enterprise, provides annual academic sponsorship to primary and secondary school graduates who have excelled academically but come from low-income, rural, or marginalized communities.
Every year, the foundation sponsors 40 deserving students. Through the Kengen Alumni group, the number of students they can sponsor has been increased.
2. Strathmore University Foundation
Strathmore University, a private university, has a broader range of schemes that support secondary and tertiary students who excel in various areas.
Academic excellence, special sponsorship for final year high school students who wish to pursue specific courses in accounting, information, and technology, special sponsorship for students who emerge top in Mathematics contests, high school students who have excelled in sports, bursaries for the needy and exceptional academic ability are among the merits.
The scope of the bursaries can be expanded based on the criteria of the school’s sponsors.
3. Equity Group Foundation
Equity Group Foundation, the charitable arm of Equity Group Holding, provides financial and mentoring assistance to deserving primary and secondary students across the country.
According to the foundation the classification of financially needy students includes children from low-income families, victims of civil wars, and children of parents with serious illnesses or disabilities.
Through interviews and home visits, applicants are vetted and verified by local community leaders and equity bank staff.
The foundation collaborates with the Equity Leaders Program, which offers internship opportunities to academically gifted high school students.
4. USIU Africa foundation
United States International University, a private university, provides partial and full academic sponsorships to high school graduates based on merit.
Students at the top of their class and the children of civil servants who excel academically are eligible for partial academic sponsorship.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and candidates from underrepresented communities in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ASAL) are eligible for full sponsorship.
Full academic sponsorship recipients must be financially needy and demonstrate exceptional academic and leadership abilities.
It should be noted that fully sponsored students are only responsible for Student Affairs Council and Medical fees.
5. The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation has dedicated itself to providing scholarships to orphans and vulnerable students (OVS). The foundations primarily accept students from public primary and secondary schools.
One must obtain 70% of the maximum possible marks or meet the standards set by the board of directors, especially for PWDs and people from marginalized communities.
6. Ambassadors Girls’ Scholarship Program (AGSP):
The Ambassadors Girls’ Scholarship Program (AGSP) provides scholarships to girls in primary and secondary school in Africa who are from economically disadvantaged areas or who are facing adversity.
Over a four-year period, the Academy for Educational Development provides over 85,000 scholarships in 15 Western, Central, and Eastern African countries.
Scholarships are designed to provide access to educational opportunities and are tailored to the needs of each country. The scholarship package may include the following items:
7. Canadian Harambee Education Society Scholarships:
The mission of the Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES) is to improve the quality of life for women and communities in Kenya and Tanzania by providing secondary education scholarships for girls.
Scholarships are given to Kenyan and Tanzanian girls who qualify for Secondary School placements but require financial assistance to attend.
CHES increases students’ success in school and in their communities by facilitating their learning and transition into adult community life.
It also Promotes global supporter commitment through sponsorship of individual students and projects
8. Co-operative Bank Foundation Scholarships Kenya:
The Co-operative Bank Foundation is the Co-operative Bank’s social responsibility vehicle.
The Foundation’s flagship project is an education scholarship scheme for bright but underprivileged Kenyan children who are struggling to pay secondary school fees.
Every year, scholarship ecipients are chosen from Kenya’s 47 counties and receive a full four-year secondary education scholarship.
Candidates must meet the following requirements for eligibility:
The student must have received at least 350 points in the standard eight final examinations.
The student must come from a low-income family that cannot afford secondary education.
At least one of the student’s parents must be or have previously been a member of a Cooperative society.
If at least one of the deceased parents was a member of a Co-operative Society, orphans will be eligible.
Both public and private secondary schools are eligible for sponsorship.
9. Elimu Fund Scholarships:
The Elimu Fund assists intelligent Kenyan students with limited financial resources in pursuing and successfully completing secondary education.
To be considered for the scholarship, the applicant must have completed the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) with a minimum grade of “B” in the previous year.
The recipient must have been accepted into a public or private secondary school recognized by Kenya’s Ministry of Education.
In most cases, the scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition, dormitory room and board (where applicable), and other associated costs such as books, uniforms, travel, and a monthly stipend.
10. KCB Foundation Scholarships:
The KCB Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Kenyan secondary school students. Scholarships for high school student’s education. Kenya secondary school grants, bursaries, and scholarships
Every year, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) awards over 200 secondary school education scholarships to deserving students who take and pass the KCPE.
Applicants must have received high grades and come from low-income families.
