NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Education has announced a new round of fully funded scholarships targeting needy and vulnerable learners set to join Senior Schools in 2026, marking one of the most expansive efforts yet to widen access to secondary education.
In a notice released Tuesday, the ministry said the programme—administered through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF)—will support learners who performed between meeting expectations and exceeding expectations in the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), corresponding to Achievement Levels 5 to 8.
The government emphasized that learners with special needs and disabilities will be considered regardless of academic performance.
“The Ministry of Education, through The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, is awarding Elimu Scholarships in all the 47 counties to needy and vulnerable learners who will be joining senior school in the year 2026,” the notice stated.
The scholarship window also extends to refugee learners residing in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Dadaab—whether enrolled in UNHCR-supported schools within the camps or in nearby public junior schools.
Male refugee applicants must meet Achievement Levels 5 to 8, while girls who attained Level 4 (approaching expectations) and above will qualify.
Education officers noted that the differentiated criteria for refugee girls aim to bridge long-standing gender disparities in schooling among displaced communities.
Beyond academic performance, applicants must demonstrate genuine financial need. Eligible categories include orphans, learners from informal settlements, children whose parents or guardians have disabilities, and families affected by chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.
Learners who have suffered neglect, abuse, or abandonment, as well as those with special needs and disabilities, are also encouraged to apply.
Officials say the model seeks to align scholarship allocation with existing national social protection frameworks, ensuring that the programme reaches households least able to afford secondary education.
Applicants can pick up scholarship forms at the nearest Sub-County Education Office. Refugee learners will access the documents through Camp Manager offices or UNHCR facilities in Kakuma and Dadaab. Forms are also available for download on www.education.go.ke and www.jkf.co.ke.
Completed forms—accompanied by all supporting documentation—must be submitted online or at Sub-County Education Offices by December 23, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Refugee applicants may submit forms either through the Sub-County Director of Education or their respective Camp Manager.
Online applications for all learners, including refugees, can be filed through https://scholarship.jkf.co.ke.
Shortlisted candidates, together with their parents or guardians, will be required to appear before Community Selection Advisory Committees (CSACs) for final vetting.
The scholarship covers school fees, transportation, shopping, and pocket money for the full three-year Senior School cycle. Beneficiaries will also receive mentorship and psychosocial support—an increasingly prioritized component aimed at addressing the non-academic barriers that often derail students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The announcement comes shortly after the Government of Mauritius unveiled 15 fully funded scholarship opportunities for Kenyan learners for the 2025/2026 academic year.
According to a Ministry of Education notice issued on November 25, the opportunities span undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes. Applicants have been advised to review the guidelines provided on both the Kenyan and Mauritian Ministries of Education websites.
With rising competition for tertiary and secondary scholarships, the ministry says the initiatives reflect broader government efforts to expand equitable access to learning and create pathways for bright but disadvantaged Kenyan youth.
