The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced fully funded scholarships for needy students joining senior schools in 2026.
In a notice on Tuesday December 2, the Ministry said the scholarship program implemented through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) targets needy and vulnerable learners from all 47 counties, including refugee children in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab camps.
“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.
The scholarship will cater for school fees, transport to and from school, shopping and a pocket money for the beneficiaries for the three-year education period.
The learners will also be getting mentorship and psychosocial support throughout the period.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have sat the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in a public junior school.
For refugee learners, boys must have achieved ‘meeting expectations’ to ‘exceeding expectations’ at Achievement Levels 5 to 8, while girls who scored ‘approaching expectations’ at Level 4 and above will also qualify.
Learners with special needs and disabilities will qualify regardless of their achievement level. Additionally, 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.
The program will also consider orphans, children from urban informal settlements, learners whose parents or guardians have disabilities, and those from families affected by HIV/AIDS or other chronic illnesses.
Others include children affected by extreme poverty, those who have suffered neglect or abuse, and learners living with disabilities.
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How to apply
Interested applicants are required to collect scholarship application forms from the nearest Sub-County Education office.
“Application forms for refugee learners can be collected from the office of the Camp Manager, UNHCR offices in Kakuma and Dadaab,” the notice reads.
Application forms can also be downloaded from the Ministry of Education website; www.education.go.ke or the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) website: www.jkf.co.ke. Applications can also be done online at https://scholarship.jkf.co.ke.
Duly completed application forms, including supporting documents, should be submitted either online or to the nearest Sub-County Education Office, on or before December 23, 2025, at 5.00 pm.
For refugee learners, submissions may be made through the Sub-County Director of Education or the Camp Manager’s office.
“Only candidates who meet the stipulated criteria will be considered for the scholarship,” the ministry emphasised.
