Ruto Unveils KSh 500 Billion Scholarship Fund to Empower Kenya’s Marginalized Youth.
President William Ruto has directed the immediate launch of a KSh 500 billion national scholarship program targeting children from indigenous minorities and marginalized communities.
Announced during the International Minorities Rights Day at State House, Nairobi, the initiative aims to remove poverty as a barrier to secondary and tertiary education.
“This policy fulfills the commitment made in the Kenya-Kwanzaa Alliance manifesto and the task force announced in 2023. It provides the policy, legal, and institutional foundation required to operationalize Article 56 of our Constitution,” the President said.
Program Details and Scope
The Head of State added that the framework also expands access to justice by providing for the establishment of mobile courts and legal aid centres in remote areas, training justice sector actors on minority rights, integrating traditional conflict resolution mechanisms into the national peace architecture, recruiting security personnel from local communities, and strengthening community-led disarmament efforts.
The scholarship, housed under the Executive Office of the President, will partner with private sector players and development partners for implementation.
“To translate this policy from paper into lived reality, the following measures shall be implemented with immediate effect,” Ruto said, before outlining the first set of actions.
“The immediate establishment of a Ksh500 billion national minority scholarship program to be implemented in partnership with private sector players and development partners. The program will support children from indigenous minorities and marginalized communities to access both secondary and tertiary education, ensuring that poverty is no longer a barrier to talent.”
It supports learners from vulnerable groups, aligning with Article 56 of the Kenyan Constitution, the Ethnic Minorities and Marginalized Communities Bill, 2025, and the Draft Policy on Minorities.
This fulfills promises in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance manifesto and a 2023 task force.
Broader Policy Reforms
Beyond scholarships, Ruto outlined measures like paying Social Health Authority contributions for 200,000 vulnerable individuals and enrolling families in cash transfer programs.
The Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit will become a semi-autonomous directorate to coordinate efforts across government.
Additional steps include drafting a National Council of Minorities law, mobile courts in remote areas, and allocating 30% of county climate funds to community-led initiatives.
According to him, all Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries will be required to integrate the policy into their strategic plans and budget estimates for the 2026–2027 financial year.
President Ruto also urged County Governors to establish County Minority Inclusion Units and to domesticate the policy in their following County Integrated Development Plans.
Implications for Education and Equity
This program builds on Kenya’s rising education budget, from KSh 500 billion in 2022 to KSh 702 billion currently, emphasizing access for underrepresented groups.
By integrating indigenous knowledge and justice reforms, it addresses climate vulnerability and conflict in pastoral areas.
County governors must now form inclusion units and update development plans. This reports the announcement prominently, highlighting its role in translating policy into action for marginalized communities.
The outlet detailed Ruto’s directives on justice access, security recruitment from locals, and traditional conflict resolution. This aligns with ongoing government pushes like youth training programs.