Needy Grade 9 learners who sat for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) examination have a chance to fight for the government’s Elimu Scholarship ahead of joining Senior School in January.
Apart from being needy and vulnerable, eligibility is tied to scoring between ‘meeting’ or ‘exceeding’ expectaion, the Ministry of Education has said in a notice released on December 2, 2025.
The 2026 class will be the inaugural senior school cohort under competency-based education (CBE) 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum that replaced the 8-4-4 learning plan that was launched in 1985.
Learners with special needs and disabilities, the Basic Education Department said, will be eligible irrespective of their scores in the national exam whose results are expected to be released this month.
Refugee learners living in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab camps, and who attended UNHCR-supported schools or nearby public schools, will also be eligible. Boys must meet or exceed expectation while girls will be considered from the ‘approaching’ expectation score.
The Senior School fee is set at Sh53,554 while the scholarship covers fees, transport, shopping, and pocket money for the three-year period.
“Only candidates who did the 2025 KJSEA Assessments from public junior schools and camp-based refugee learners from 42 camp-based junior schools, as well as those refugee learners who attended public junior schools in close proximity to the refugee camps in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Daadab are eligible,” the notice reads.
The ministry says the vulnerable learners include orphans, those from informal settlements, children of parents with disabilities, learners affected by HIV/Aids or chronic illnesses, those living in extreme poverty, survivors of abuse or neglect, and children with special needs.
Application forms can be collected from the sub-county education offices, refugee camp manager’s offices or UNHCR offices, or from the ministry’s website (www.education.go.ke), The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation website (www.jkf.co.ke), or on https://scholarship.jkf.co.ke.
Completed forms must be submitted online or to the nearest sub-county education office by December 23 at 5pm. Refugees may submit to either the sub-county director of education or the camp manager.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews alongside their parents or guardians.
