300 Students Awarded Full Scholarships to Join First Grade 10 Senior School Cohort

Three hundred bright students from vulnerable households across 25 counties will join Grade 10 senior school this year after receiving full scholarships under The Family Group Foundation’s Tufuzu na Elimu scholarship programme.

The scholarships will fully cover tuition fees, accommodation, school uniforms and upkeep for the three-year senior school cycle. Beneficiaries will also take part in structured mentorship and career readiness programmes aimed at building academic confidence and preparing them for life beyond school.

Speaking during the commissioning of the students, Director General at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Elyas Abdi Jillaow, lauded the initiative, noting that government-led reforms have helped standardise secondary education across the country.

“The Government, through the Ministry, has made efforts to ensure standardisation and equalisation of secondary schools in Kenya. This means that facilities and the quality of education are the same across schools. We therefore value such support from the Foundation because continuously investing in education is lifting households from poverty,” he said.

The cohort marks the first group of beneficiaries under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, a key milestone in Kenya’s education transition.

Family Bank Chief Executive Officer Nancy Njau said the programme reflects the Foundation’s long-term commitment to social and economic empowerment.

“Over the last 14 years, the Bank’s purpose through the Foundation has been to deliver long-term social and economic value to our communities. Through this programme, we have ensured that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of academic potential for over 3,000 students from vulnerable households nationwide,” she said.

Since its inception, the Tufuzu na Elimu programme has supported more than 3,000 students in secondary and tertiary education, recording an 80 per cent successful transition rate to tertiary institutions and the job market.

The Family Group Foundation, the social investment arm of Family Bank, Kenya Orient Insurance and Daykio Plantations, focuses on education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. To date, the Foundation has invested over KES 300 million in high school scholarships and an additional KES 90 million in youth entrepreneurship and technical training programmes.

Beyond education, the Foundation has supported climate action through forest restoration initiatives, invested in ICT and software development training for young people, and empowered communities through agribusiness, WASH programmes and sports development.

In recognition of its impact, The Family Group Foundation was named Community Empowerment Leader of the Year at the 2023 Kenya ESG Awards for its work in education, environmental conservation and technical skills training.