On a sunny afternoon, while the rest of the world buzzed with its daily routines, Jeff M. was in quiet reflection. Just a few years earlier, the thought of joining high school felt like an impossible dream. But on this particular day Jeff was ecstatic! His parents had just received the call from Kenya Education Fund (KEF) that he would receive a scholarship to attend high school.
This was the light at the end of the tunnel he was seeking. Jeff would join the rest of his peers on admission day!
Jeff, now a determined Form 3 student from Ngaremara, Kenya describes his home as a place where “there is peace always.” In a world that often feels chaotic, this peace is a gift to him and his family.
His dream is to become a doctor, “Because of how they help in the society,” he says. Jeff has always been drawn to the idea of healing, of making others feel better, of serving his community in one of the most impactful ways possible.
But before dreams come true, many walk through valleys of uncertainty. For Jeff, that valley was the heavy question that once kept him up at night: “How will I join high school?”
Then something beautiful happened. Jeff became part of the KEF family—a turning point he still remembers with deep gratitude.
“I felt happy and highly favored,” he recalls. “Being treated like a son in the KEF family.”
It wasn’t just about school fees or supplies. It was the generosity, the warmth, the feeling of being seen and supported that changed everything. Jeff remembers how the KEF team welcomed him, believed in him, and gave him the tools to chase his dream.
He says it best: “Very generous and helpful.”
Today, when Jeff isn’t studying for his exams, you’ll likely find him on the football pitch or spending time with his beloved dogs—his two favorite pastimes. But his heart remains focused on his mission: to study hard, rise above his circumstances, and one day wear a white coat with pride.
And we believe he will. Because when hope meets opportunity, the future becomes limitless.
The Kenya Education Fund (KEF) awards high school scholarships to bright, motivated students from financially challenged backgrounds across Kenya. The selection process begins in Grade 9, before students take their national exams. Each year, KEF distributes over 4,400 applications in all 47 counties. A dedicated U.S.-based Application Review Committee assesses each application based on academic merit and financial need. Shortlisted candidates are invited for in-person interviews held at multiple accessible locations nationwide. In KEF's most recent intake, 161 students were awarded scholarships—opening doors to quality education and empowering them to build brighter futures for themselves and their communities.