Questions/Answers

The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (“JKF”) is a state owned enterprise which was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee without a share capital in 1966 to advance education in Kenya and expend part of its income for purposes which result in the benefit of the citizens of Kenya. The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation Scholarship Programme (the “Scholarship Programme”), which fulfills one of the key mandates of JKF, is an educational fund set up by JKF to provide scholarships to bright but needy students to attend public secondary schools in Kenya. The Scholarship Programme was started in 1968 and has to date assisted more than 10,000 Kenyan students to pursue secondary school education. This translates to an expenditure of over US$ 4.5 million in the last 50 years. The Scholarship Programme currently supports 366 beneficiaries in various public secondary schools in Kenya. The Scholarship Programme is mainly funded from part of the profits obtained by JKF from the sale of JKF’s educational publications. By offering scholarships to bright but needy students, the Scholarship Programme complements Kenya’s developmental efforts in reducing illiteracy by improving transition rates from primary to secondary school. It also promotes the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal number 4 of ensuring inclusive and quality education. Through the payment of school fees, provision personal effects in dire cases of poverty, and offering mentoring, guidance and counselling to the beneficiaries, the Scholarship Programme addresses the following challenges: i) Children dropping out of school due to: - Inability by indigent parents to pay school fees. - Lack of appreciation of the value of education. - A lack of mentorship and proper guidance leading to self-destructive habits such as drug abuse. ii) Child labour. iii) Early marriages among girls of a school going age.

The mission of the Scholarship Programme is to transform the lives of destitute orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya through provision of secondary school education and resources. Specific objectives i) Provide scholarships to 944 needy students by 2022 – this will be made possible through an increase in sales revenue by JKF and also by forging strategic partnerships with private sector actors, individuals, non-governmental organisations and development partners who can assist in sourcing for more funds for the scholarships. ii) Provide mentorship to all beneficiaries in leadership and entrepreneurial skills annually – this objective recognises the need for capable leaders whether employed by others or self-employed. It aims to impart entrepreneurial skills for job creation, recognising the limited capacity of the Kenyan job market to absorb all job seekers. iii) Ensure 99% completion rate by 2022 – due to the challenging backgrounds the scholarship beneficiaries come from, they have had an average completion rate of 90% in the period 2010-2015 which should be improved applying appropriate remedies before the challenges lead to dropping out. iv) Provide internship to alumni at the university level annually – this recognises that the alumni still need support to gain their footing in the professional sphere.

The Scholarship Programme targets students who due to indigence, cannot pay for their secondary school education. Also, through affirmative action, the Scholarship Programme reserves slots for vulnerable groups such as students living with disabilities and from marginalised tribes in Kenya. The Programme uses a unique scholarship management information system designed for the seamless running of the selection, fee payment and performance evaluation. Through the Scholarship Programme, poor and vulnerable beneficiaries are able to attend some of the best public schools in the country raising their chances of breaking the poverty cycle. The Scholarship Programme promotes partnerships for the poorest and most vulnerable by putting them in a different social setting where they are able to mingle with inspiring teachers, mentors and professionals to support them. The Scholarship Programme is transparent in that students are awarded scholarships based on well documented processes under ISO 2015 standards. Application forms and dates are made available of on the JKF website, and through county and sub-county education directors. The Scholarship Programme welcomes public complaints through the email address: complaints@jkf.co.ke and suggestion boxes on JKF premises. Furthermore, the Scholarship Programme maintains a Complaints Register for recording complaints.

According to the 2015 Education for all National Review published by the Kenyan Ministry for Education, Science and Technology 24% of pupils failed to transit to secondary school in 2012 in Kenya. A leading cause of the gap in transition is inability to by parents to pay school fees. Prior to 2017, secondary education was free but the government only paid a limited amount. In some cases, especially for the biggest and most competitive schools, the amount remitted by the government did not cover the entire cost of learning. This resulted in schools charging for discrete services making quality secondary education inaccessible to many poor and vulnerable Kenyans. In contributing to resolve this problem, the Scholarship Programme has to date, sponsored over 10,000 bright but needy students to attend some of the best public schools in the country at a cost of US$ 4.5 million. This is in line with Sustainable Development Goal number 4 of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all. In fact, the Scholarship Programme, whose policy is to select one girl and one boy from each county in Kenya has contributed towards eliminating gender disparities in access to quality education.

The Scholarship Programme has assisted in raising transition rates to secondary school among needy and vulnerable groups in Kenya in its five decade history by distributing the scholarship application forms to the sub county education offices who in turn distribute to the all primary school heads to assist in applications. The initiative has seen an 90% completion rate in all the poor and vulnerable awarded scholarships between 2010 and 2015. These beneficiaries later contribute to the economy of the Country and assist their families come out of poverty. In recognition of its contribution, JKF was awarded the Presidential Award for having made on its golden jubilee for having made an outstanding contribution in Kenya towards providing quality educational publications and scholarships to needy students. In addition, by requiring that one boy and one girl be awarded a scholarship from each of the 47 counties in Kenya, the Scholarship Programme promotes gender equality. Similarly, through affirmative action of reserving scholarships for people from marginalised ethnic communities and people living with disabilities, the Scholarship Programme aids these groups to access quality education.

Over 10,000 needy students have benefitted from the Programme. The initiative has seen an 90% completion rate in all the poor and vulnerable awarded scholarships between 2010 and 2015. Through its affirmative action approach, the Scholarship Programme has enabled women, people from marginailsed ethnic communities and people living with disability to access quality education which they otherwise would not have done. Success stories include: i) Peris Tobiko, the first female MP from the Maa community. ii) Pauline Akai Lokuruka, Deputy Director Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies at Egerton University. She was the first woman from Turkana County, to attain a University Education. iii) Ms. Winrose Ireri is an entrepreneur and was a nominated member of the Embu County Assembly. iv) Mr. Jeremiah Macharia studied engineering and went on to found Poolshop East Africa Limited, a company that offers swimming pool construction, maintenance and related services. It employs about 20 Kenyans. v) Mr. Caleb Kiprono started a non-governmental organisation called Youth For Development, Science and Technology which spear heads some youth projects under Kenya’s Vision 2030. vi) Mr. Thomas Okelo also studied engineering and now runs an information technology consultancy firm.

The scholarship Programme has set up structures which have lent it credibility and uniqueness. It has built a wide-reaching network including parents, non-state actors, county and sub county education officials, local administration and religious institutions. These networks reach the grass roots enabling the Scholarship Progamme to win the support of the people and get to identify the genuinely needy students. Moreover, the networks have built trust between government, citizens and other bodies showing the people that the government, in this instance, is delivering services to the weakest. By introducing formal but humane interviews, held as close as possible to the applicants and home visits, the Scholarship Programme operates within predefined parameters which are deeply embedded in the Kenyan context for maximum effectiveness. In addition, the Scholarship Programme also commissioned the development of a scholarship management information system that is used in the management the Scholarship Programme from beginning to end, including managing student school fees accounts and performance for efficiency and monitoring. The programme has also established individual and group mentorships to ensure that all beneficiaries are properly guided to maintain the highest standards of discipline and complete school to become productive Kenyan and global citizens.

The Scholarship Programme was the first of its kind in Kenya for poverty alleviation by providing secondary education to one member of the family who is later able to lift the rest out of poverty. The Scholarship Programme continues to possess a unique network and method of work built over time which has forged mutually beneficial relationships among those involved. Finally, the Scholarship Programme has commissioned the design of a unique scholarship management information system which ensures proper monitoring and control in the management of selection, school fees and performance.

Currently, it costs US$ 250 000 to implement the Scholarship Programme per annum. This amount covers school fees and purchase of personal effects (for those in dire poverty), the cost of advertising the scholarship dates and deadlines, selection, interviews, home visits, scholarship award ceremony, mentorship, school visits and purchase and maintenance of the Scholarship Management Information System. The Scholarship Programme has a permanent staff of seven people but also makes use of other JKF staff members in the selection, interviewing, home visits and creation of awareness about the Scholarship Programme. The Scholarship Programme is housed in an office within the JKF Head Office where each of the seven staff members has a desk and a computer. The Programme also conducts its interviews in the offices of education county directors or other public institutions as advised by the relevant education county directors.

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The MasterCard Foundation and Equity Group Foundation have borrowed experiences from the JKF Scholarship Programme to launch and enrich the Wings to Fly Program. Launched in 2011, the Wings to Fly Program aims at granting over 10,000 comprehensive secondary school scholarships and leadership training to academically gifted yet economically and socially marginalized young Kenyans. The program defines social and economic vulnerability to include students who have lost of one or both parents, students whose parents are living with HIV or chronic illnesses and who are unable to educate their children, and families affected by disaster such as famine. The JKF Scholarship Programme sponsored Honourable Mohammed Elmi who became a Member of Parliament for Tarbaj Constituency between 2013 and 2017 in the Noth Eastern part of Kenya. Having benefitted from the JKF Scholarship Programme, Elmi provides guidance and sponsorship to the Northern Kenya Education Trust which supports access to quality education for students from arid and pastoralist counties of Kenya.

The Scholarship Progamme has transparent processes which ensure that scholarships are awarded to those who most need them. Also, it takes into account children from marginalised ethnic communities in Kenya, safeguarding their survival and ability to enjoy in human rights such as education. The Scholarship Programme also places beneficiaries in situations where they are forced to interact with Kenyans from other walks of life, strengthening national cohesion and understanding. The mentorship programme also fosters interaction with role models and others who can assist these students fulfill their potential. It raises the quality of life of the beneficiaries and their families by enabling them to access education. This equips them to be bread winners in future and better contribute to the county’s social and economic life. The Scholarship Programme is economically sustainable as it is assured of funds from the sale of JKF educational publications with average profits of US$ 2.5 million for the two year period of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. JKF, which was incorporated in 1966 is a going concern to date. It is among the top ten educational publishers in Kenya, attested to by the publication and sale of its Primary Mathematics series, a primary school text book that has been the leading text book on mathematics in Kenya to date. Additionally, the Scholarship Progamme embarked on a plan to diversify its sources of income by hiring out of JKF grounds and partnering with other organisations such as the Scholarship Programme Alumni Association to ensure a wider pool of funding. The Scholarship Programme is environmentally sustainable as its activities do not endanger the environment. Moreover, JKF is digitising its books reducing the need to print on paper thus fostering environmental sustainability at the source of the funds for the Scholarship Programme.

The Scholarship Programme is sustainable in time. The biggest attestation to this is the fact that it has been in existence for the past 5 decades. This shows that it is a viable project which can continue into the foreseeable future. This durability in time is safeguarded by the economic, social and environmental factors discussed in a. above that make the Scholarship Programme sustainable. In addition, the Scholarship Programme is dynamic. In its 50 year history, it has seen structures put in place such as the introduction of standard procedures for the Programme as well as set eligibility criteria. In addition, it is dedicated to adapting technological advances for better effectiveness and efficiency such as its scholarship management information system. The Programme is included in the Strategic Plan of JKF and its performance is evaluated after each strategic plan period. There are also checks in place to ensure that the Scholarship Programme fulfills its mandate. By allowing the public to give feedback, the programme can constantly improve its quality. The Scholarship Programme is answerable to the Board of Directors of JKF and the Ministry of Education. Since these bodies are not involved in the day to day running of the Programme, they can view the operations with objectivity and direct remedial action to be taken where systems are not respected. Moreover, the Scholarship Programme is audited every year by the internal audit team at JKF which gives a report and recommendations. These must be acted upon before the next audit session. This system of checks enables the Scholarship Programme to mitigate threats before they spiral out of control.

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The Scholarship Programme considers the four year high school attendance of each intake of beneficiaries as a project. Each project is evaluated by monitoring the academic performance of each student at the end of a school term. This is done by calling for their academic reports. These results are fed into the scholarship information management system, which enables the beneficiary performance to be tracked and corrective actions taken to ensure the beneficiaries reach their maximum potential. At the end of each project, the completion rates and the rates of joining tertiary institutions in Kenya are captured in table form. Out of this analysis that has been done by the JKF internal audit team, an average of 90% of the beneficiaries in the Scholarship Programme in the period between 2012 and 2017 have completed their secondary education while 99% of those who completed being deemed able to join public universities in Kenya and other tertiary institutions based on the grades they attained.

To confirm whether the Scholarship Programme meets its mission of providing scholarships to bright but needy students to enable them to attend otherwise inaccessible public secondary schools, an internal audit and annual analysis of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination results are undertaken. Out of this analysis that has been done by the JKF internal audit team, an average of 90% of the beneficiaries in the Scholarship Programme in the period between 2010 and 2015 have completed their secondary education while a further 99% of those who completed high school able to join public universities in Kenya and other tertiary institutions based on the grades they attained.

One indicator used during the evaluation was the number of beneficiaries awarded scholarships vis-a-vis the number of beneficiaries who sat their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination. The other indicator is the grade attained by the beneficiaries who completed to ensure they get an admission under the Government sponsorship to Pubic universities and other tertiary institutions. Also, the financial implication on drop out cases to JKF was analysed showing the loss of funds for students who dropped out before completing their education.

The JKF Board of Directors includes various stakeholders from the government, educational institutions and professionals who are responsible for policy formulation and stewardship of organisational activities including the Scholarship Programme. The Scholarship Programme fully complies with all the laws, policies, guidelines and directives meted out by the Ministry of Education and invites the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Ministry to the scholarship award ceremonies. The Scholarship Programme reaches out to teachers, parents and guardians of beneficiaries to discuss the overall development of the beneficiaries. Where a problem arises, their input is sought to resolve it. Recently, the Programme came up with a cost sharing arrangement with a guardian to obtain a hearing aid for a partially deaf beneficiary. Additionally, JKF has partnered with the East Africa Philanthropic Network for the last 8 years. In this time, it has attended training on fundraising methods. The Scholarship Programme also collaborates with the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central which provides all the sponsored girls with sanitary pads every year. The Club also monitors the interview process and provides feedback to the Scholarship Programme. The Scholarship Programme has encouraged its alumni to form an association that continues to support the Programme in cash and through mentorship.

The key lesson learnt is that extending a US$500 scholarship and building community based supporting networks around a needy child can transform lives of entire families and indeed communities. One beneficiary put it like this, “I am now employed by TSC (Teacher Service Commission) in Meru. I got money to take my wife back to school and she was able to pass and joined university. I also sponsored one of my brothers to take a course as a primary teacher. My sister also has taken an ECDE Course currently I am sponsoring her for diploma. My daughter is in a good academy. Life has completely changed for our family to the better. This is because of Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. I know I can’t thank you enough”. The Scholarship Programme has the potential to reach many more needy students which it can do by forming key partnerships that would help diversify and grow its cash kitty. It could have an endowment fund to further safeguard its sustainability. Also, it could do a deeper study to show the impact of the scholarships on swaths of Kenyan society such as entire regions and professions, not just individuals.