The Ministry of Education has announced awarding the Elimu Scholarships through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

The Ministry said the scholarship will cut across all counties and will cater for the needy and vulnerable learners who will be joining senior schools.

Learners who attained Meeting Expectation and Exceeding Expectation Achievement Levels will be highly considered.

Both boys and girls will benefit, and learners with special needs and disabilities will be considered regardless of their performance.

“The Ministry of Education, through The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, is awarding Elimu Scholarships in all the counties to needy and vulnerable learners who will be joining senior school in the year 2026. The learners should have attained academic achievement within Meeting Expectation to Exceeding Expectation Achievement Levels in the KISEA Assessments. This applies to both boys and girls. For affirmative action, learners with special needs and disabilities will be considered regardless of achievement level,” reads part notice.

Message to Refugee Learners

According to the Ministry, refugee learners in Kakuma Kalobepei and Dadash refugee camps who studied through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) program are also encouraged to apply.

However, for refugee learners, boys should have scored achievement level exceeding expectations (Achievement Levels 5 – 8) while girls should have attained “Approaching Expectation” (level 4) and above will qualify.

“Refugee learners residing in Kakuma Kalobepei and Dadash refugee camps were learning in UNHCR-supported schools within the camps or in nearby public junior schools, which are also eligible to apply,” the Ministry stated.

Additionally, only candidates who took the KISEA Assessment from public junior schools and camp-based refugee learners from 42 camp-based junior schools are eligible.

Refugee learners who attended public junior schools near the Kakuma, Kalobepei, and Dadash refugee camps are also eligible.

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Eligibility to Apply

Applicants who are interested in applying should meet the following requirements:

• Orphans.
• Learners from urban informal settlements.
• Learners whose parents or guardians are living with disabilities that have compromised their ability to meet the financial obligations of their children.
• Learners whose families are affected by HIV AIDS and other chronic illnesses with debilitating effects that could render parents and guardians destitute and unable to fend for their families.
• Learners whose families are affected by extreme poverty rendering them unable to educate their children.
• Learners who have suffered from neglect and abuse and have no support to continue with their education.
• Learners with special needs and disabilities

Where Application Forms Can be Found

Scholarship forms can be collected at any nearest Sub-County Education Office.

Alternatively, application forms for refugee learners can also be collected from the office of the Camp Manager, UNHCR offices in Kakuma and Dadash.

Application forms can also be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Education, www.education.go.ke, or that of The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, www.jkf.co.ke .

The Ministry also said applications for both refugee and non-refugee learners can also be done online at https//scholarship jkf.co.ke.

When Application Forms Should be Submitted and Where

All completed application forms having supporting documents attached should be submitted online or to the nearest Sub-County Education office.

Submission should be done before December 23rd, 2025, at 5:00 pm.

However, for refugee learners, the forms can be submitted to either the office of the Sub-County Director of Education or the Camp Manager in Kakuma and Dadash refugee camps

Only shortlisted candidates accompanied by parents or guardians will be invited for interviews, which will be conducted by the Community Selection Advisory Committees (CSACs).

Qualified candidates who will meet the stipulated criteria will be considered for the scholarship.

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What Scholarship Will Cater For

The Ministry said scholarships will cover school fees, transport to/from school, school kits, pocket money, and psychosocial support.

Urban Centres With Informal Settlements

1. Embu County – Embu

2. Garissa County – Garissa

3. Kakamega County – Kakamega

4. Kericho County – Kericho

5. Kiambu County – Thika

6. Kilifi County – Kilifi

7. Kisumu County – Kisumu

8. Kitui County – Kitui

9. Machakos County – Machakos

10. Mombasa County – Jomvu, Kisauni, Likoni, Mvita, Nyali, Changamwe

11. Nairobi County – Dagoretti, Embakasi, Kamukunji, Kibra, Makadara, Starehe, Westlands

12. Nakuru County – Naivasha, Nakuru

13. Nyeri County – Nyeri

14. Uasin Gishu County – Eldoret

Refugee Camp-Based Primary Schools (Kakuma)

1. Bhar-El-Naam

2. Jebel Mara Refugee Camp

3. Kakuma Refugee Camp

4. Ngundeng

5. Shambe

6. CJSH

7. Kadugli

8. Fashoda

9. Angelina Jolie

10. Fuji

11. Horseed

12. Palotaka

13. Shabelle

14. Lokituang

15. Alnuer

16. Gambella

17. Malakal

18. Eliyes

19. Hope

20. Peace

21. Newlight

22. Kalobeyei Morning Star

23. Kalobeyei Settlement

24. Kalobeyei Friends

25. Joy Primary

26. Future Primary

27. Bright Primary

Junior Schools In Daadab (2025 KISEA)

1. Central

2. Juba

3. Unity

4. Bahati

5. Hormud

6. Horyaal

7. Horseed

8. Abdul-Aziz

9. Hormimo

10. Friends

11. Undugu

12. Upendo

13. Amani

14. Central

15. Bidii

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Ministry of Education building in Nairobi. PHOTO/ Nation.