Learners seeking scholarship opportunities from various providers will now only have to do it once through a collaboration of providers that seeks to harmonise the process.
The KPC Foundation, National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), KCB Foundation and M-PESA Foundation have launched a joint initiative aimed at simplifying the scholarship application and recruitment process for learners with disabilities transitioning to Grade 10 in 2027.
The initiative seeks to bring participating scholarship providers together in one accessible location, creating a convenient, and coordinated application process for learners and their families. This approach is expected to significantly reduce the need for multiple applications with the various scholarship providers, as well as reducing travel and related logistical costs, while ensuring that deserving learners can access scholarship opportunities with greater ease.
Speaking during the event, KPC Foundation Manager, Rachel Gathoni, said access to education should not be complicated by the process of seeking support.
“By bringing scholarship providers together under one coordinated platform, we are making it easier for learners with disabilities and their families to access opportunities without the burden of multiple applications, or unnecessary travel costs. Our goal is to make the journey to secondary education simpler, more inclusive and dignified,” said Gathoni.
Through the collaboration, the partners will establish a harmonised national recruitment process supported by shared county-level structures. The initiative will also have coordinated awareness campaigns and a standardised assessment and vetting framework. This will enhance transparency in beneficiary selection while eliminating duplication of efforts among participating organisations.
“We recognise that no single organisation can address all the barriers that learners with disabilities face in accessing quality education. Through this collaboration, we are combining our resources, and networks to reach more deserving learners while ensuring a fair and transparent selection process. No deserving learner will be left behind because of barriers in the application process,” added Gathoni.
The initiative will also enable scholarship providers to pool resources and expertise to reach more eligible learners across the country. Following the joint assessment process, each participating organisation will independently select and onboard beneficiaries based on its scholarship allocation, programme requirements and available resources.
By placing accessibility, convenience and inclusion at the centre of scholarship recruitment, the partnership seeks to ensure that learners with disabilities and their families spend less time navigating application processes and more time preparing for the next stage of their education.