Each year, we offer 655 comprehensive scholarships to students who have successfully completed primary education but face financial barriers to entering secondary school.

Of these, 420 scholarships are allocated through the Bank’s Regional Delegates, who represent co-operatives and saccos across the entire country, while the remaining 235 scholarships are nominated by the 47 County Governments, with each county receiving five slots. This structured approach speaks to our last-mile strategy born out a desire to award scholarships to students most in need and those in remote areas.

Recipients are free to attend schools of their choice, creating a vibrant and inclusive program that brings together scholars from across Kenya. Regular communication is maintained through a termly newsletter and the Bank’s extensive branch network. Scholarships cover tuition fees, school uniforms, and books, removing major barriers to education.

The Foundation annually awards 56 university scholarships to its top-performing students. Recipients are supported in attending any public university to which they have been admitted through the Government’s Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

This scholarship goes beyond covering tuition and accommodation, promoting holistic personal and professional development through:

• Internships at Co-operative Bank during university holidays, providing practical work experience.
• Community service requirements that encourage students to volunteer in public or under-funded institutions, instilling the value of giving back.
• Mentorship and coaching, guiding students during their university journey and preparing them effectively for the job market.

Launched in 2018 in partnership with Yusudi Limited, the Jijali Program equips youth with critical life and soft skills to successfully transition into employment, internships, or entrepreneurship. The three-month online program enables trainees to choose between two tailored tracks: Career Preparation or Entrepreneurship, each complemented by dedicated mentorship sessions.

Topics include:

• Goal Setting
• Overcoming Personal Barriers
• Organisational Skills
• Problem-solving
• Communication Skills
• Personal and Business Branding
• The Art of Selling
• Job Search Techniques
• Financial Literacy (Personal and Business)
• Digital Marketing
• Business Modelling

The motorcycle taxi (boda boda) sector significantly contributes to Kenya’s economy, employing around 1.2 million riders who collectively serve over 14 million people daily. Despite the entrepreneurial aspirations of many young riders, barriers such as licence acquisition, limited insurance awareness, inadequate financial literacy, and insufficient business skills remain prevalent.

In response, we partnered with GIZ under the Employment for Development (E4D) program to launch the Jenga Rider project, aiming to enhance the employment prospects and economic stability of boda boda riders in Nairobi, Coastal, and Eastern regions. Other key collaborators include the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Mark Holdings Limited (MHL), and MRM Safal Foundation.

We further developed a dedicated mobile application designed to provide ongoing training in financial literacy, road safety, and entrepreneurship.

Download the Jenga Rider App

Leveraging our income tax exemption status and extensive experience, we provide Fund Management services to organisations and projects seeking efficient and impactful financial stewardship. Currently, we are collaborating with Co-op Consultancy to deliver a targeted capacity-building program supporting Saccos within emerging sectors such as rice and dairy.

1. USAID US Education Program: Facilitated Kenyan students’ access to top US universities through SAT preparation courses conducted at our training facility in Karen. Successful candidates received financial assistance covering visa and travel expenses.
2. Solar-powered Greenhouse Initiative with EDP: We collaborated with EDP (Energias de Portugal) on a project to introduce solar-powered greenhouses to different high schools in the provinces of Marsabit, Isiolo, and Kwale. This initiative was part of EDP’s Access to Energy (A2E) Fund program. It enhanced agribusiness skills, improved food security and expanded access to green energy.
3. Beyond Zero Partnership:  We supported the office of the former First Lady Margaret Kenya under the Beyond Zero campaign to provide mobile trucks to improve access to maternal services among communities living in remote areas.