By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, January 06 2026 - More than 800 learners in Kilifi County are set to benefit from scholarships worth Sh85 million under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), a government backed initiative that aims to support vulnerable and high performing students to remain in school and reach their academic potential.
The distribution coincides with the reopening of schools for the first term of 2026, offering a crucial lifeline for families struggling with education costs amid economic pressures. During the scholarship ceremony presided over by Kilifi County Woman Representative Getrude Mbeyu, learners from disadvantaged backgrounds received award letters and cheques, some covering full scholarships, including tuition, books and other school expenses, for deserving students who met the eligibility criteria.
Mbeyu said the initiative seeks to ensure that financial hardship does not derail academic dreams for learners in the county. “We know the cost of education continues to rise, and for many families in Kilifi, paying fees can be a real challenge,” said Mbeyu as she handed out the scholarship awards. “NGAAF’s support ensures that these bright and needy students can stay in school and pursue their academic goals without burdening their parents.”
The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), a Semi Autonomous Government Agency under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, was established to empower historically marginalised groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities and vulnerable children, by enhancing access to social services, financial facilities and basic opportunities such as education.
NGAAF’s education support programmes include both bursaries and scholarships aimed at alleviating the financial barriers to schooling. These assist students from lowincome families, orphaned learners and those with special needs by covering fees, textbooks, accommodation and other academic costs, enabling them to access quality education and focus on their studies.
More from Kenya
The Kilifi award forms part of a national push to expand education support, with the government releasing funds through NGAAF to benefit tens of thousands of learners across the 47 counties. Recent disbursements under the fund have targeted vulnerable households and aimed to enhance equitable access to schooling opportunities, especially in regions with high poverty indices.
Education advocates and county officials say such investments are timely, given ongoing economic challenges that have made it hard for many families to meet school expenses despite government commitments to maintain free primary and secondary education as a constitutional right.
Parents and students at the event expressed relief and gratitude, saying the scholarships will directly ease the burden of school fees, reduce dropout risks and motivate learners to excel academically. The Kilifi awards join a broader landscape of education support measures nationwide, including county bursary schemes, like the recent Sh74 million disbursed in Nandi to support nearly 8,000 students, and other scholarship programmes that seek to keep vulnerable children in school and unlock future opportunities.
As the new school term progresses, county leaders and education stakeholders are hopeful that such scholarship initiatives will help bridge gaps in access and enable more Kenyan learners to pursue their education without being held back by financial hardship.
