The President unveiled the initiative on Thursday during celebrations marking the International Day for Minority Rights at State House. He said the programme, dubbed the National Minority Scholarship Programme, will support learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to access education at both secondary and tertiary levels.
According to Ruto, the government will partner with private sector stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the scholarship fund and widen its reach.
He noted that many learners from minority and marginalised communities face systemic barriers that prevent them from progressing through the education system, despite having the ability and ambition to succeed.
“Education is the most powerful equaliser, and no Kenyan child should be left behind because of where they were born or the community they belong to,” the President said.
“Education is the most powerful equaliser, and no Kenyan child should be left behind because of where they were born or the community they belong to,” the President said.
He added that the scholarship programme is designed to address long-standing inequalities and unlock opportunities for communities that have historically been excluded.
In addition to the scholarship fund, Ruto announced that the Ministry of Education will allocate Ksh200 million annually to an Education Infrastructure Fund dedicated to minority and marginalised areas.
In addition to the scholarship fund, Ruto announced that the Ministry of Education will allocate Ksh200 million annually to an Education Infrastructure Fund dedicated to minority and marginalised areas.
The funding will support the construction, upgrading, and equipping of schools and middle-level colleges in underserved regions, many of which lack adequate learning facilities.
The President further directed the Ministries of Water, Roads, and Health, working alongside the Equalization Fund, to prioritise minority and marginalised communities in the rollout of development projects.
The President further directed the Ministries of Water, Roads, and Health, working alongside the Equalization Fund, to prioritise minority and marginalised communities in the rollout of development projects.
These include access to clean water, road connectivity, and health facilities, which he said are critical to improving living standards and supporting educational outcomes.
The new initiatives will be implemented under the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous and Marginalised Communities (2025–2035), a framework recently launched by the government to address persistent social, economic, and political disparities affecting these groups.
Under the policy, the government will establish a Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate to serve as the central coordinating body for all related programmes.
The new initiatives will be implemented under the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous and Marginalised Communities (2025–2035), a framework recently launched by the government to address persistent social, economic, and political disparities affecting these groups.
Under the policy, the government will establish a Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate to serve as the central coordinating body for all related programmes.
In addition, a National Council for Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities will be created through legislation to provide oversight and policy guidance.
“This framework guarantees a permanent and authoritative voice for minority concerns across government, with focal points in every ministry and county,” Ruto said.
The President directed that the directorate be immediately set up within the Office of the President to ensure effective coordination and implementation across sectors.
“This framework guarantees a permanent and authoritative voice for minority concerns across government, with focal points in every ministry and county,” Ruto said.
The President directed that the directorate be immediately set up within the Office of the President to ensure effective coordination and implementation across sectors.
He also instructed county governments to establish County Minority Inclusion Units and to integrate the policy into their County Integrated Development Plans to promote grassroots-level impact.
In a significant policy move, Ruto announced that the unit will be elevated into a semi-autonomous agency with legal and financial authority to implement and safeguard programmes targeting minority and marginalised communities.
He further directed the Attorney-General, in consultation with the Kenya Law Reform Commission, to begin drafting legislation to establish the National Council and align existing laws with the new policy framework.
President Ruto said the reforms mark a decisive step toward building a more inclusive society, stressing that minority and marginalised communities are integral to Kenya’s identity, unity, and long-term development.
In a significant policy move, Ruto announced that the unit will be elevated into a semi-autonomous agency with legal and financial authority to implement and safeguard programmes targeting minority and marginalised communities.
He further directed the Attorney-General, in consultation with the Kenya Law Reform Commission, to begin drafting legislation to establish the National Council and align existing laws with the new policy framework.
President Ruto said the reforms mark a decisive step toward building a more inclusive society, stressing that minority and marginalised communities are integral to Kenya’s identity, unity, and long-term development.
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