Nairobi County Launches Ksh170 Million Scholarship Programme to Support 4,000 Students

By : Mweru Mbugua

Nairobi County has rolled out a Ksh170 million secondary school scholarship programme targeting learners from vulnerable households, with 4,000 students set to benefit in the first phase

Governor Johnson Sakaja launched the initiative on Thursday at Uhuru Park during the presentation of the Governor’s Scholarships to successful beneficiaries

He said the programme is aimed at ensuring that financial challenges do not deny deserving learners access to education

The governor noted that the county has committed Ksh170 million to the scholarship scheme, describing it as part of broader efforts to promote equity and social mobility through education

Sakaja revealed that Nairobi County spent about Ksh3 billion on scholarships and bursaries between 2013 and 2022, compared to Ksh1.8 billion disbursed over the past two years under his administration

He attributed the revival of the scholarship programme to the resolution of a legal stalemate that had previously stalled county education funding initiatives.

“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,” Sakaja said

He reiterated that education remains a key pillar of development, adding that the county is collaborating with the national government to expand learning infrastructure through ward-based funding and joint projects

According to the governor, the national government is constructing 5,000 classrooms at a cost of Ksh1 billion, while the county government is building an additional 1,500 classrooms to ease congestion in public schools

Sakaja highlighted the scale of Nairobi’s education challenges, noting that a population of about seven million people is currently served by only 230 public schools

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He also pointed to the county’s Dishi na County school feeding programme as a major contributor to improved attendance and enrolment, saying that more than 68 million meals have been served so far

County Executive Committee Member for Talents, Skills Development and Care, Brian Mulama, said the scholarship programme will significantly ease the burden of school fees on parents and help learners remain in school

“This programme will go a long way in supporting learners and easing the financial burden on parents, ensuring that talented children can stay in school and focus on their education,” Mulama said

The scholarship initiative forms part of Nairobi County’s wider education strategy focused on improving access, retention, and learning conditions in public schools