Garissa: 1,129 Grade 10 Learners Benefit from Elimu Scholarship

By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter

15 January 2026 - A total of 1,129 learners from vulnerable families joining Grade 10 in Garissa County have benefitted from the Elimu Scholarship Programme 2026, a move that will ease their academic financial burden in senior schools.

Out of the 1,129 learners, 245 are from the Dadaab Refugee Camp.

The Ministry of Education through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) is implementing the programme.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for the learners at NEP Girls High School in Garissa town, JKF County Coordinator for Garissa Nelson Oloo said that the programme is going to enhance the suitability as well as the economic advantages accruing from scholarship beneficiaries.

According to Mr Oloo, the scholarship will cover the school fees, uniforms, shopping, pocket money and transport to and back from school for the learners.

“This exercise was very rigorous, we ensured that the criteria of selection was followed We were picking students who scored 5 points and above from disadvantaged families, vulnerable groups and the persons living with disabilities,” Mr Oloo said.

“We believe that this programme is going to enhance the suitability as well as the economic advantages accruing from scholarship beneficiaries. We wish all our learners a beautiful stay at school. Let them be disciplined because we will be doing monitoring and mentorship for them throughout the year,” he added.

Garissa Township Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring on his part called for 100% transition in all levels of education, especially where learners have received government scholarships and support.

Mr Okiring assured that the 2026 selection process was free and fair and that every qualified student was interviewed to fill the allocated slots in the county.

“Garissa is one of the countries that benefited most from this programme in that 884 slots were allocated. The government is focused on ensuring that our children get quality education, achieve 100% transition to the next level and that our students do not drop out of school,” Mr Okiring said.

“The selection process was chaired by myself and it was a very transparent process. We did it openly and every student who qualified was interviewed. We want to call upon the parents of these students to continue supporting the children and not abandon them because the government is taking care of them,” he added.

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Among the beneficiaries of the scholarship is Marian Abdi Mohamed, who sat her Grade 9 final exams at Garissa Primary School and Junior Secondary and was placed for Grade 10 at Makueni Girls but her parents could not afford the fees there.

Marian said that her parents made two unsuccessful attempts to transfer her to local schools in Garissa, which crushed her hopes for pursuing education further before her junior school teacher recommended the scholarship for her to apply.

“I had lost hope and decided to stay at home. I am so happy for this opportunity. I don’t even have words to express my joy,” Marian said.

“I am here to say that try as much as possible for your dreams. Most of the girls in our community have dropped out of school but I know what a boy can do, a girl can do better. I will be a role model for girls in this community and prove that women from this region can succeed in their careers,” she added.

Abdiaz Mohamed, another beneficiary, shares a similar story as Marian. Although he was placed in his dream senior school – Garissa High school, he had no hope of joining the school before he received the news of being a successful applicant.

The 2026 Elimu Scholarship Programme is targeting thousands of needy and vulnerable learners from all 47 counties, including refugee children living in Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab camps.

According to the Ministry of Education, eligible candidates must have attained achievement levels ranging between “Meeting Expectation” and “Exceeding Expectation”, corresponding to Levels 5 to 8, in the assessments.

This applies to both boys and girls in public schools.

Learners with special needs and disabilities will qualify regardless of their achievement level.