KCB Foundation Launches Scholarship Programme in South Sudan
By Dickson
Odhiambo
August
10,2026
KCB
Foundation Launches Scholarship Programme in South Sudan
KCB Foundation has launched its KCB
Scholars Programme in South Sudan, awarding scholarships to 50 third-year
medical students at the University of Juba.
The move is part of efforts to expand
access to higher education and contribute to the development of the country’s
health workforce.
The inaugural cohort comprises 30 male
and 20 female students who will receive support to enable them to complete
their medical training and advance towards professional careers in the health
sector.
Speaking during the launch at the
University of Juba, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo notes that South
Sudan needs a strong, skilled and committed health workforce.
He says these scholarships will
therefore go a long way in enabling young South Sudanese men and women to acquire
skills that their country urgently needs
The rollout comes at a time when South
Sudan continues to face significant challenges in access to education.
According to UNESCO, the country’s gross enrolment ratio in tertiary education
is approximately 2.5 per cent, among the lowest in the world, meaning that
fewer than three out of every 100 young people of university age are enrolled
in higher education.
The country has only seven public and
private universities serving a population of more than 12 million people, with
limited infrastructure, funding and academic capacity constraining access to
university education. These challenges have contributed to a critical shortage
of skilled professionals, particularly in sectors such as healthcare,
engineering and education, underscoring the importance of targeted scholarship
programmes that enable talented students to complete their studies.
The KCB Scholars Programme was
established in Kenya in 2007 and has since supported thousands of bright but
financially disadvantaged learners. According to KCB Foundation, the programme
has awarded more than 7,000 secondary scholarships and more than 600 tertiary
scholarships, recording a 99 per cent secondary school completion rate and an
84 per cent transition rate to university and college.
“The Government of South Sudan
appreciates the partnership with KCB Foundation in supporting our young people
to access higher education. Investing in education is investing in the future
of our country, and initiatives such as this provide young South Sudanese with
the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to national development,” said
the Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, Hon.
Omot Okony Olok Guon.
South Sudan has approximately 7.6
skilled health workers for every 10,000 people, significantly below the World
Health Organization-recommended threshold of 45.5 health workers per 10,000
people required to achieve universal health coverage, according to a 2025
analysis published by the South Sudan Medical Journal.
As part of its commitment to the
country, KCB Foundation will continue to pursue partnerships that expand access
to education, skills development and economic opportunities across the region,
with a focus on interventions that contribute to sustainable livelihoods and
long-term community impact.
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