Kenya Education Fund Hosts Principals’ Meeting to Strengthen Partnerships
Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenya Education Fund (KEF) convened its annual Principals’ Meeting today at the Radix Hotel in Karen, bringing together 45 heads of KEF partner schools and key partners including the KCB Foundation, Zeraki, Contentment, and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The forum provided an opportunity to reflect on KEF’s impact, discuss emerging trends in education, and build stronger collaborations to support students across Kenya.
In his keynote address, Mr. Dominic Muasya, KEF Executive Director and Co-Founder, highlighted the organization’s mission and growth since its founding in 2004.
“We had kids around us who could not afford to join school. I believe education is a right and poverty should not deny access to education,” he said. “Education is a tool for self-reliance and ending poverty.”
Mr. Muasya announced that the KEF scholarship program, previously spanning five years, will now cover three years of high school and one year of college in alignment with changes in Kenya’s education system. He celebrated the achievements of KEF scholars, noting that in 2024, 80% of KEF students scored C+ and above in KCSE, with 100% transitioning to higher education. Of those, 65% are now in the workforce or self-employed, demonstrating the transformative power of education.
The conference featured a series of insightful sessions:
Mental Health & Wellness – Led by Ms. Victoria from Chiromo Hospital Group, this session emphasized the importance of investing in professional school counselors and provided stress management tools for both teachers and students. Schools were encouraged to invite mental health experts for mental wellness seminars.
Competency-Based Education (CBE) – Dr. William Chelimo, Director of Testing at KNEC, explained the evolving CBE curriculum for senior schools, stressing the importance of empowering teachers for a smooth transition. He outlined placement guidelines for Grade 10 and noted KNEC’s commitment to ensuring quality, including the potential use of AI in monitoring.
Financial Literacy – a team from Standard Chartered guided principals on building sustainable investment portfolios, encouraging them to plan early for financial security, with personalized follow-up support available.
Design Thinking – Dr. Norlena Albert, a senior coach, introduced design thinking as a human-centered approach to problem-solving. KEF announced plans to explore ways to integrate these workshops into schools, fostering innovation among both teachers and student leaders.
Contentment Session – Susan Gathu Focused on nurturing resilience and values-driven leadership among educators and learners.
Partner Presentations – KCB Foundation reaffirmed its continued commitment to supporting education access and equity in Kenya. while Zeraki showcased digital learning tools designed to improve efficiency in school administration and classroom delivery,
The meeting also served as a networking platform, strengthening the bonds between KEF, partner schools, and stakeholders working towards the shared goal of empowering Kenyan students.
Looking forward, KEF announced its strategy to continue supporting students, and partnerships will allow the organization to provide more comprehensive and sustainable support to its beneficiaries.
