KCB Foundation to provide scholarships to talented athletes

The KCB Foundation has piloted a student athletic programme that will provide scholarship opportunities to talented students, to nurture and grow their talent into world-class athletes under the annual KCB Scholars initiative. 

This is specifically for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with a view of extending it to other sports in the future.

The move seeks to support the national student athletes' programme by working with the Kenya Academy of Sports through the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, and the Ministry of Education.

On Thursday, the Foundation selected 50 students to join its 2024 KCB scholars programme, following athletics trials held at Ndura Sports Complex in Kitale Town.

The students will receive fully paid scholarships to join secondary schools across the country this month, covering the full 4-year secondary education period and athletics coaching at identified centers of excellence.

KCB Foundation will work with Transcend Talent Academy, to train and nurture the students’ athletic talent as well as KIPRUN, to provide their athletic kits.

"In line with the KCB group’s efforts to develop sporting talent in the country, the Foundation has piloted sporting talent into the annual scholars programme commencing with athletics with a view of venturing into other sports in the coming years," the Foundation director Mendi Njonjo said.

“Our goal is to increase opportunities for gifted and talented student-athletes who would otherwise have dropped out of school for lack of school fees." 

The scholars program targets 1,000 bright vulnerable students from across the 47 counties who sat for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2023.

This includes teen mothers, FGM Champions, gifted and talented students and Persons Living with Disabilities.

Launched in 2007, the scholarship programme has so far benefited 4,675 students, with 2,715 currently in school.

With a secondary completion rate of 99% and a university transition rate of 84%, the programme continues to be a flagship KCB group initiative to address existing challenges that prevent many students from furthering their education.