President Ruto Announces Establishment of Ksh500 Million Scholarship Program

President William Ruto has announced that the government will establish a Ksh500 million national minority scholarship program.

Speaking on Thursday, December 18, during the International Minority Rights Day at State House, Ruto said the scholarship program will be implemented in partnership with the private sector and development partners.

The Head of State noted that under the programme, children from minority and marginalized communities will be able to access secondary and tertiary education.

“The immediate establishment of a Ksh500 million national minority scholarship program to be implemented in partnership with private sector players and development partners.

“The programme will support children from indigenous minorities and marginalized communities to access both secondary and tertiary education, ensuring that poverty is no longer a barrier to talent,” Ruto said.

At the same time, the President said the Ministry of Education will set aside Ksh200 million annually to upgrade and equip colleges in minority and marginalized areas.

“The Ministry of Education shall set aside KSh200 million annually as an Education Infrastructure Fund to construct, upgrade, and equip schools and middle-level colleges in minority and marginalized areas,” he stated.

Ruto also said the government, in collaboration with the private sector and development partners, will pay Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions for 200,000 vulnerable individuals from minority and marginalized communities.

Further, he directed the State Department for Social Protection to register eligible families from the minority and marginalized communities into cash transfer programs.

“The State Department for Social Protection shall urgently register and enroll all eligible families from minority and marginalized communities into existing cash transfer programs, to strengthen household resilience and dignity,” Ruto added.

Additionally, he announced the elevation of the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit into a directorate.

Ruto said the directorate will be established under the Executive Office of the President.

“The Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate shall be immediately established within the Executive Office of the President to coordinate implementation across government,” he announced.

Ruto’s announcement comes days after the Ministry of Education, through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, has announced fully funded scholarships for needy students who will be joining Senior Schools in 2026.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, December 2, the ministry said learners must have achieved academic performance ranging from ‘Meeting Expectations’ to ‘Exceeding Expectations,’ corresponding to achievement levels 5 to 8 in the 2025 KJSEA assessments.

The Ministry, however, noted that learners with special needs and disabilities will be considered regardless of achievement level.

“The Ministry of Education, through The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF), is awarding Elimu Scholarships in all the 47 counties to needy and vulnerable learners who will be joining senior school in the year 2026,” read the notice.

Refugee learners residing in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Dadaab refugee camps, who were learning in UNHCR-supported schools within the camps, or in nearby public junior schools, are also eligible to apply for the scholarships.