KCB Foundation backs 1,000 scholars in the class of 2024
KCB Foundation has flagged off 1,000 students for the 2024 scholarship class, benefiting from an Kes800 million sponsorship to enable them to pursue their secondary education.
The scope of the scholarship extends beyond tuition fees, encompassing stipends, uniforms, transport, and essential set books. However, the Foundation’s commitment goes beyond the financial realm, as it includes regular mentorship and psychosocial support, recognizing the multifaceted needs of students as they navigate their educational journeys. It also caters for their tertiary education school fees.
The students, commissioned by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, will join various secondary schools across the country this week.
KCB Group CEO Paul Russo stated, “We are playing our part in transforming the lives of young people through education support. We are opening doors of opportunity for disadvantaged, bright learners in our society who would otherwise not have accessed secondary education.”
The 2024 class forms the 17th cohort of the scholar’s program, including 2,462 students currently in high school and 498 in tertiary institutions. The program has sponsored over 4,600 students since its inception.
This year, KCB Foundation, the social investment arm of KCB Group, received over 12,000 applications, marking the highest turnout since the program’s inception in 2007.
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Underprivileged students
“KCB Group’s deliberate effort to identify underprivileged students for support to continue with secondary school education indeed complements the government’s efforts towards achieving 100 per cent transition,” noted the CS.
This year, KCB Foundation initiated a pilot program focused on student athletics, aligning seamlessly with the Competency-Based Curriculum. This particular group comprises 50 student-athletes who will not only receive scholarships but also benefit from athletics coaching at recognized centers of excellence, fostering their potential to evolve into world-class athletes.
The KCB program targets academically bright students hailing from underprivileged backgrounds. Within this framework, 100 slots are designated for Persons with Disabilities, while 500 slots are allocated to girls—encompassing gifted and talented individuals, those rescued from FGM, early marriage, and teenage mothers.
As a key feature of the program, all high school beneficiaries who undertake the KCSE examination receive 100 percent school-fee support, extending to university and tertiary scholarships.
A noteworthy addition to the revamped KCB Foundation education scholarship program is a 3-month apprenticeship post-KCSE results, hosted at KCB branches nationwide.
This component is designed to benefit all beneficiaries starting with the 2022 class, offering them valuable real-world experience and practical skills beyond their academic pursuits.
