HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES IN KENYA

Did you know that there are higher education scholarship programs in Kenya, funded by organizations from outside the country? Check them out below!

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

• The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a program that was launched by the United States government in 2010 to support and empower young African leaders. This initiative aims to invest in the next generation of African leaders, equipping them with skills that will help them drive economic growth, enhance democratic governance, and strengthen civil society structures.

YALI has three components as follows:

1. Mandela Washington Fellowship

• The Mandela Washington Fellowship targets young African leaders who have a proven record of leadership. Since its inception in 2014, almost 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have benefitted from this fellowship.
• The Fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes where they study Public Management, Civic Engagement, or Business. These programs are hosted by U.S. colleges and universities.

To qualify for this US government-funded fellowship, young African leaders should:

• be between the ages of 25 and 35 by the application deadline;
• not be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• be eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
• not be employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, or any other U.S. Government entity).

Selection Criteria

• Commitment to public or community service
• A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship
• Commitment to return to one’s home country to serve one’s community.

2. YALI NETWORK

• The YALI Network is a vibrant online community where young African leaders learn how to effect change around important issues in their communities. This network also enables them to improve their leadership skills using online training, virtual resources, and networking opportunities. This rapidly growing community currently has around 640,000 members.
• Benefits of joining the YALI Network include networking, skill development, visibility and recognition, support, and resources.

Components of the YALI Network

These include:

1. Online courses and training (Leadership and Civic Engagement, Public Management and Business and Entrepreneurship)
2. YALI Network Online Platform (Resource library, discussion forums, and events/webinars)
3. YALI Network Communities (Local YALI Network Chapters and online groups)
4. Challenges and Contests (Innovation challenges and storytelling competitions)
5. Networking and Collaboration (Professional networking and collaborative projects)
6. News and Updates (Newsletter and success stories)

3. YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa

• The YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa is located at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. It serves as a hub for leadership training, networking, and professional development for young leaders from 14 East and Central African countries. This Center is overseen by Kenyatta University and is supported by a growing number of African and international partners.
• Entry into the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa is merit-based and open to young East African leaders who are committed to driving positive change in their home countries.
• Participants selected from this program engage in leadership training across three tracks of study, i.e. Civic Leadership, Public Management, and Business and Entrepreneurship. The participants benefit from programs combining classroom-based learning with experiential activities and mentoring that are designed to foster leadership growth and enhance their skills and impact.
• Graduates of this 4-week residential program become part of a growing network of YALI alumni committed to collaboration towards developing innovative solutions for regional challenges and driving positive change within Africa.

Here is a list of other higher education scholarship programmes in Kenya.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

• The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme (AKF ISP) provides an opportunity for outstanding scholars to pursue postgraduate education. These scholars are selected from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
• Recipients of this scholarship should be able to prove that they have no other means of financing their studies.
• The ISP awards are disbursed on a half grant and half loan basis, meaning that the recipient is required to repay 50 percent of the award amount.
• All Master’s study scholarships are granted for the entire duration of the degree course.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this scholarship, you should have:

• have excellent academic records;
• be originally from one of the selected countries listed above;
• hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training/professional experience;
• demonstrate genuine financial need;
• demonstrate a thoughtful, reliable, multi-source funding plan that covers all years of study;
• be admitted to a reputable postgraduate institution.

African Canadian Continuing Education Society (ACCES)

• Since, 1993, the African Canadian Continuing Education Society (ACCES) has provided scholarships to underprivileged post-secondary students in Kenya.
• The mission of this registered charity is to alleviate poverty through the provision of education. It provides partial scholarships to bright Kenyan students from vulnerable backgrounds, thus ensuring that they complete their tertiary studies.

Wells Mountain Initiative

• The Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI) is one of the higher education scholarship programmes in Kenya. It provides educational scholarships to highly motivated and community-minded young people who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in high-need sectors but lack the financial resources needed to complete their studies.
• WMI Scholars receive funding for their undergraduate education, career counseling, flexible tuition support, and skill-building opportunities.
• Recipients of these scholarships pursue degrees in courses that will benefit the growth of their local communities and countries. These include law, engineering, community development, education, medicine, and information technology, among others.

Windle International Kenya Tertiary Education Programme

• Windle International Kenya (WIK), with the support of different donors, offers tertiary education scholarships to deserving students. These scholarships are offered at the certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate levels.
• The eligibility criteria for these scholarships include:
  • Academic qualifications
  • Demonstration of financial need
  • Community service
  • Age
• The scholarships are provided in training institutions in Kenya, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Scholarship slots are limited, making the awarding process very competitive.
• The scholarship benefits, depending on the scholarship program, include university/college placements, payment of tuition and related fees, and remitting of stipends to the successful applicants for their living expenses (where applicable).

The higher education scholarship programmes in Kenya listed above provide options for talented students who are not able to pursue tertiary studies to develop academically and professionally.