Elimu Scholarship Programme 2026, Full Eligibility, Application Guide, and School Lists

The Ministry of Education through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) is awarding Elimu Scholarships at the 47-informal settlements and vulnerable areas to 900 learners who will be joining senior school in the year 2026. The learners should have attained an academic achievement levels “Meeting Expectation” or “Exceeding Expectation” (Achievement Levels M and E) in the 2025 KJSEA Assessments. The 900 places for both boys and girls. For affirmative action, learners with special needs and disabilities will also be considered regardless of their academic scores.

Refugee learners residing in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab refugee camps, and were learning in UNHCR supported schools within the camps, or in nearby public junior schools are also eligible to apply. For the refugee learners, the boys should have attained the “Approaching Expectation” (Level A), and girls “Below Expectation” (Level B).

Only candidates who did the 2025 KJSEA Assessments from public junior schools and camp based refugee learners from 22 camp based junior schools, as well as those who attended public junior schools in close proximity to the refugee camps in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab are eligible.

In addition, the applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria. They should be learners from poor and vulnerable backgrounds, including:

a) Orphans.
b) Learners from urban informal settlements.
c) Learners whose parent, guardians are living with disabilities that have compromised their ability to meet the financial obligations of their children.
d) Learners whose families are affected by HIV/AIDS and, or other chronic illnesses with debilitating effects that could render parents and guardians destitute and unable to fend for their families.
e) Learners whose families are affected by extreme poverty, rendering them unable to educate their children.
f) Learners who have suffered neglect and or abuse and have no support to continue with their education.
g) Learners with special needs and disabilities.

Applicants or guardians are asked to collect scholarship documents from the nearest Sub County Education Offices for schools, informal settlements, and also those from refugee camps in the nearest Sub County Managers, UNHCR offices in Kakuma and Dadaab. Application forms can also be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Education, www.education.go.ke or that of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF), www.jkf.co.ke.

Applications for both refugee and non refugee learners can also be done online 

Duly completed application forms, including supporting documents, should be submitted either online, OR to the nearest Sub County Education Offices, on or before the 23rd December, 2025 at 5.00pm. However, for refugee learners, these forms can be submitted at either the office of the Sub County Director of Education, or Camp Manager in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps.

Shortlisted candidates, accompanied by parent, guardians, will be invited for interviews which will be conducted by the Community Selection Advisory Committees (CSAC). Please note that ONLY the candidates who meet the stipulated criteria will be considered for the scholarship.

The scholarship will cater for school fees, transport to and from school, School Kit (shopping) and a pocket money for the beneficiaries for the three year education period. The learners will also be getting mentorship and psychosocial support throughout the period.

Members of the public are urged to share this information widely so as to reach as many potential beneficiaries as possible.

For any questions or grievances regarding the application process of the Elimu Scholarship Programme, please contact Toll Free line 0800720540 or 0723798689, 0733105196 or email: elimu@jkf.co.ke or elimu@education.go.ke.

URBAN CENTRES WITH INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

Group 1

1. Embu, Embu

2. Garissa, Garissa

3. Kakamega, Kakamega

4. Kericho, Kericho

5. Kilifi, Kilifi

6. Kisumu, Kisumu

7. Kitui, Kitui

8. Machakos, Machakos

9. Mombasa, Changamwe

10. Mombasa, Jomvu

11. Mombasa, Kisauni

12. Mombasa, Likoni

13. Mombasa, Mvita

14. Mombasa, Nyali

Group 2

1. Nairobi, Dagoretti

2. Nairobi, Embakasi

3. Nairobi, Kamukunji

4. Nairobi, Kasarani

5. Nairobi, Kibra

6. Nairobi, Makadara

7. Nairobi, Mathare

8. Nairobi, Starehe

9. Nairobi, Westlands

10. Nakuru, Naivasha

11. Nakuru, Nakuru

12. Nyeri, Nyeri

13. Uasin Gishu, Eldoret

REFUGEE CAMP BASED PRIMARY SCHOOLS

List of Junior Schools in Kakuma Refugee Camp

1. KK1, BHAR EL NAAM, 2154904

2. KK1, JEBEL MARA REFUGEE CAMP, 2154902

3. KK1, KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP, 2154903

4. KK1, NGUNDENG, 2154901

5. KK1, SHAMBE, 2154931

6. KK1, CUSH, 2154915

7. KK1, KADUGLI, 2154936

8. KK1, FASHODA, 2154905

9. KK2, ANGELINA JOLIE, 2154910

10. KK2, FUJI, 2154907

11. KK2, HORSEED, 2154914

12. KK2, PALOTAKA, 2154909

13. KK3, SHABELLA, 2154916

14. KK3, LOKITANG, 2154912

15. KK3, ALNUUR, 2154913

16. KK3, GAMBELLA, 2154911

17. KK4, ELYES, 2154937

18. KK4, HOPE, 2154939

19. KK4, PEACE, 2154938

20. KK4, NEWLIGHT, 2154931

21. VILLAGE1, KALOBEYEI MORNING STAR, 2154934

22. VILLAGE1, KALOBEYEI SETTLEMENT, 2154930

23. VILLAGE2, KALOBEYEI FRIENDS, 2154933

24. VILLAGE2, JOY PRIMARY, 2154936

25. VILLAGE 3, FUTURE PRIMARY, 2154935

26. VILLAGE 3, BRIGHT PRIMARY, 2154937

LIST OF JUNIOR SCHOOLS IN DADAAB THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE 2025 KJSEA

1. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, Dagahaley, CENTRAL, ECD/PRI/JSS, PVGA

2. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, Dagahaley, JUBA, ECD/PRI/JSS, ZTX

3. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, Dagahaley, Unity, ECD/PRI/JSS, F4PR

4. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, HORMUUD, ECD/PRI/JSS, ARGC

5. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, HORYAAL, ECD/PRI/JSS, VFTU

6. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, HORSEED, ECD/PRI/JSS, V5ZL

7. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, ABDUL-AZIZ, ECD/PRI/JSS, V4F6

8. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, Hormuud, ECD/PRI/JSS, VA6C

9. Garissa, Dadaab, Dadaab, IFO, Friends, ECD/PRI/JSS, CJA

10. Garissa, Fafi, Fafi, Hagadera, UPENDO, ECD/PRI/JSS, KDSK

11. Garissa, Fafi, Fafi, Hagadera, CENTRAL, ECD/PRI/JSS, JLMN

12. Garissa, Fafi, Fafi, Hagadera, UMOJA, ECD/PRI/JSS, DLTW

13. Garissa, Fafi, Fafi, Hagadera, BONI, ECD/PRI/JSS, DSSP