By George Morara
The school calendar for most of the learning institutions in Kenya will round off on November 21, 2025. Officially some of these learning institutions, mainly primary and secondary schools closed last Friday.
And as learners look forward to the new academic calendar that kicks off on January 5, 2026 according to the Ministry of Education, no students that look forward to the opening day more than a group with disabilities.
Those under the Inuka Scholarship, a Kenya Pipeline Company’s (KPC) corporate social initiative aimed at empowering students with disabilities, believe the program is a dream come true for many marginalized children.
For Patience Nelima, a First Year student at Kenyatta University studying Film, Arts and Drama, now the sky is the low limit as she hopes to reign in the world of movie when she completes her studies.
“I have a dream that in future I will use my disability to advocate for equal opportunities for every child, regardless of their social background. I intend to light up the world of persons with disability through film and arts,” she said, noting that this is regardless of short stature.
She spoke during an event that saw the KPC Foundation and the National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) sign a formal collaboration in the areas of recruitment and identification of beneficiaries.
It also highlights how education bursaries and other related costs will be addressed by the two government entities; provision of assistive devices and career and Job linkages for Inuka alumni.
“This collaboration aligns with KPC Foundation’s social investment agenda and underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable community development, ensuring that persons with disabilities are supported to achieve self-reliance and improved quality of life,” Zilper Abong’o said on behalf of KPC Foundation Board of Trustees.
The event also highlighted the Foundation’s Inuka Scholarship Program, which since 2017 has supported bright and needy students living with disabilities from all 47 counties through secondary education.
Over time, Abong’o revealed, the program has expanded to include tertiary education under Inuka Plus, which currently supports 60 students comprising 25 students in Cohorts 1 and 2 who have transitioned to tertiary education.
“The program supports students from marginalized backgrounds in all 47 counties, providing financial assistance for their high school education (Form 1 to Form 4),” she noted, pointing out that the program’s main objective is to empower PWDs to overcome physical limitations through education and foster self-reliance among the beneficiaries.
KPC Managing Director, Joe Sang’ said that the MOU is a celebration of an initiative that’s more than a partnership, but a shared vision of inclusion, empowerment, and transformation.
“This is a moment of pride for all of us at the KPC Foundation, and indeed for every person who believes that education is the bridge to equality and opportunity.
“When we launched the Inuka Scholarship Programme in 2017, our goal was clear: to empower bright, needy students living with disabilities from all 47 counties through access to quality education,” he commented, explaining that the wider picture was to level the playing field, and to give every child, regardless of physical ability or background, a fair chance to rise.
Since inception, 745 students have benefited from the programme, with a total investment of Sh123.7 million, covering tuition, uniforms, and essential learning materials, according to KPC.
“Every year, two students, a boy and a girl, are selected from each county, ensuring national inclusivity and representation,” he adds.
According to NCPWD Chief Executive Officer, Eva Njoroge, the Inuka Program is more than financial support. “It is about restoring dignity, nurturing confidence, and helping young people living with disabilities to believe in their dreams,” she says.
Over time, the programme has grown from supporting secondary school education to include tertiary education under “Inuka Plus.” Today, there are 25 students in the second cohort of Inuka Plus, as well as 10 students admitted to the European Business University (EBU) under the sponsorship of Nominated Senator, Crystal Asige.
In addition to the first cohort, this brings the total number of students enrolled in the Inuka Plus Higher Education Scholarship program to 60.
Through NCPWD’s technical guidance, data support, and county networks, the Council has helped to identify deserving beneficiaries, ensure accountability, and strengthen KPC Foundation’s outreach to communities across the country.
“We have seen the impact of this work firsthand. In the 2024 KCSE exams, we doubled scholars who were admitted to university and our student’s performance has been on an upward trend year on year,” says Joyce Emanikor, a member of KPC Board of directors.
According to Njoroge, the role of the NCPWD is to ensure that the Inuka Scholarship reaches “those who need it most with dignity, fairness, and integrity.”
The focus on disability is informed by the challenges faced by children with disability.
In addition to academic support, the two institutions are keen integrating mentorship to ensure that students are well-equipped for success in their future careers, by focusing on fostering technological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
