Every year, over 100 students have been joining a list of students whose primary, secondary and university education is paid for by the NCBA Group. In February 2024 for instance, over 100 students received a multi-million scholarship from the bank.

This was the second year in a row that over 100 students were being sponsored to achieve their academic dreams, with another 100 students having received over Sh. 11 million in education scholarships in 2023.

“In line with our ‘Change the Story’ sustainability platform, we have partnered with different organizations since 2007 to ensure we reach every corner of the country since education is a strong vehicle for change. We want to provide an environment that caters to the nurturing of holistic individuals who will pass on their skills to the next generation,” says NCBA Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director John Gachora.

The annual scholarships have been part of the bank’s ‘Change the Story’ mission for which it has been allocating Sh. 100 million annually to support communities and empower the youth.

“We are deploying Sh100 million annually to support the communities in which we operate. We are also aiming to champion inclusive communities through regional sport development,” the NCBA Group declared in a statement to Bizna Kenya. Already, over the last six years, the bank has worked with seven different partners and have reached 15,000 youths nationally.

Apart from sponsoring education and the youth, 2024 saw the NCBA Group go big on climate change. For instance, the bank marked this year’s World Environment Day by planting 10,000 trees in Nakuru County.

“Sustainability is not a new concept to the NCBA group, as a brand we have always lived by the premise that our license to operate comes from the communities we serve,” says Mr. Gachora. For instance, between 2018 and 2022, the NCBA Group staff directly planted 80,000 trees. By 2023, the NCBA Group had planted over 300,000 trees in various parts of the country in collaboration with like-minded partners.

“Our enhanced and bolder commitments recognize that climate change is a significant and pressing challenge not only globally but also locally… one only has to observe the effects the drought has had on the country’s economy to appreciate the urgency in taking action.”

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The bank is also putting money where its climate ambitions are. In August 2023, the bank committed to mobilize Sh. 30 billion for green and sustainable financing by the year 2030.

The banking group has identified sustainability as one of its priorities and has set 15 ambitious commitments that it seeks to realize by 2030. These include growing 10 million trees through strategic partnerships within the private sector and with the national government. NCBA is also working towards the elimination of single-use plastic, ensuring 100 per cent waste recycling, greening its supply chain and investing significantly in deploying EV charging stations across the region. 

In the same vein, the bank has over the years extended support to cardiac patients from poor backgrounds through the Mater Hospital. Annually, the bank has partnered with Mater Hospital to support their cardiac program that caters for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds through their annual Mater Heart Run.

“This is a testament to our collective effort to promote preventative health and wellness. Together, we are making strides against non-communicable diseases,” says Mr. Gachora. Through this program, over 3,000 heart procedures have been performed. Most of these surgeries have been done at Mater Hospital by Kenyan doctors, with a few being referred overseas or done by visiting qualified cardiologists.

A spot check further shows that the bank has been at the forefront in promotion of proper culture, through sponsorships for cultural festivals. For instance, this year, the NCBA Group agreed to be the headline sponsors for the Piny Luo Cultural Festival. The festivals offer a rich program showcasing the Luo heritage through traditional artefacts, music, dance, sports and storytelling.