Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Thursday launched a Sh170 million secondary school scholarship programme targeting vulnerable households, providing immediate support to 4000 students at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship.
The initiative was unveiled during a ceremony at Uhuru Park, where Sakaja presented the first awards to beneficiaries and their families. He stressed that the programme forms part of wider efforts to ensure no child is denied education because of fees.
“This programme is about ensuring that no talented child drops out because of fees,” Sakaja said. “Education remains the greatest equaliser and the key to social mobility.”
Programme details and beneficiaries
The Governor’s Scholarships will cover secondary school fees for 4000 learners from needy families in the first phase. The county has allocated KSh170 million for the rollout.
Sakaja highlighted his administration’s track record, noting that Nairobi County disbursed KSh1.8 billion in scholarships and bursaries over the past two years, compared with KSh3 billion between 2013 and 2022 under previous leadership. The programme’s resumption follows resolution of a legal impasse through consultations involving the Controller of Budget, the Ministry of Education and the Council of Governors.
“I want to thank the Controller of Budget for working with the Ministry of Education and the Council of Governors to resolve the impasse that existed last year and to anchor scholarships within the law,” he said.
Addressing Nairobi’s education challenges
Nairobi faces significant education pressures, with a population of about seven million served by only 230 public schools, resulting in severe congestion.
To tackle this, the county is partnering with the national government on infrastructure expansion. The national government is constructing 5000 classrooms at a cost of Sh1 billion, while Nairobi County is adding 1500 more.
The scholarships complement the Dishi na County school feeding programme, which has provided 68 million meals to date, helping boost attendance and enrolment by ensuring children are not learning hungry.
County Executive Committee Member for Talents, Skills Development and Care Brian Mulama described the scholarships as transformative.
“This programme will go a long way in supporting learners and easing the financial burden on parents, ensuring that talented children can remain in school and focus on their education,” Mulama said.
The launch reflects Nairobi County’s ongoing strategy to improve access, retention and learning conditions in public schools amid economic challenges and rapid urban growth. With the first 4000 beneficiaries now supported, the programme offers hope to vulnerable families in Kenya’s capital.
