President Ruto Launches Ksh.500 Million Annual Scholarship for Minority Communities
Speaking at State House during the International Day for Minority Rights, President Ruto said the programme, to be implemented in partnership with private stakeholders, will cover both secondary and tertiary education
By : Mweru Mbugua
President William Ruto has announced the creation of a Ksh.500 million annual National Minority Scholarship Programme aimed at supporting children from minority and marginalized communities to access quality education
Speaking at State House during the International Day for Minority Rights, President Ruto said the programme, to be implemented in partnership with private stakeholders, will cover both secondary and tertiary education
In addition, he directed the Ministry of Education to allocate Ksh.200 million annually to an Education Infrastructure Fund, which will be used to build, upgrade, and equip schools and middle-level colleges in minority and marginalized areas
President Ruto further instructed the Ministries of Water, Roads, and Health, together with the Equalisation Fund, to prioritize minority areas in the provision of clean water, roads, and health facilities, improving living conditions for these communities
The initiative is part of the newly-launched National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous and Marginalized Communities (2025-2035), which seeks to address challenges facing these groups nationwide
The policy establishes a Minorities and Marginalized Communities Directorate within the Office of the President and proposes the creation of a National Council for Ethnic Minorities and Marginalized Communities through legislation
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“This guarantees a permanent, authoritative voice for minority concerns across government, with focal points in every ministry and county,” President Ruto said
Governors have been directed to establish County Minority Inclusion Units and integrate the policy into their County Integrated Development Plans
The President emphasized that this move will usher in a new era of inclusion, dignity, and shared progress, highlighting that minorities remain central to Kenya’s national identity and crucial to its peace and prosperity
