Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Most bursary and scholarship applications in Kenya are lost on paperwork, not on need. The big senior-school scholarships open in December and close within two or three weeks, and NG-CDF windows can be as short as five days. If you start collecting documents when the advert appears, you may not finish. This checklist is built from the official 2026 forms of the KCB Scholars Programme, the Ministry of Education Elimu Scholarship and NG-CDF constituency bursaries, so you can prepare now.
On this page
Documents almost every application asks for
| Document | Why it is needed | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Learner’s birth certificate | Proves identity and age | Civil Registration (eCitizen) if lost |
| Parent or guardian’s national ID | Proves who is applying | Huduma Centre for replacements |
| Assessment results (KJSEA result slip, or KPSEA report) | Shows academic merit | The junior school, or the KNEC results portal |
| Calling letter or admission letter | Proves the school place | Senior school placement, or the school directly |
| Fee structure or fee balance statement | Shows how much is needed | The school bursar |
| Death certificate(s) | For orphans: proves the loss of a parent | Civil Registration |
| Payslip or bank statement | If a parent is employed or in business | Employer or bank |
| Letter from the chief or assistant chief | Confirms residence and need | Your area chief |
What the 2026 KCB Scholars form required
The KCB Foundation’s 2026 application form listed these attachments: birth certificate, parent or guardian national ID, parent death certificate where applicable, payslip of the parent or guardian if employed, KJSEA result slip, evidence of extracurricular activity, evidence of leadership, the senior school calling letter, and the admission letter to the school where the learner was placed. Applicants had to bring the form and documents to a county interview with a parent or guardian, and forms were not to be dropped at a branch (KCB 2026 application form, PDF).
What the 2026 Elimu Scholarship required
The Ministry of Education’s Elimu Scholarship, run through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, required a fully completed form with copies of all supporting documents, submitted online or at the Sub-County Education Office. The form warns that incomplete forms are automatically rejected, that originals must be brought to the interview, and that canvassing leads to disqualification (JKF Elimu 2026 form, PDF).
Evidence of need: what counts
Scholarships want to understand your household’s situation. Depending on your case, useful evidence includes death certificates, a disability card from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, medical records for a parent with a chronic illness, a letter from a social worker or children’s officer, or proof of past support from another sponsor. KCB asked applicants who already had a sponsor to provide a confirmation letter from that sponsor.
Leadership and co-curricular evidence
Some scholarships, including KCB and the M-PESA Foundation Academy, ask for proof of leadership or activities. Collect certificates from music and drama festivals, sports, clubs, scouts or guides, and any letter showing your child was a class prefect or club leader. Ask the junior school for copies before your child leaves Grade 9.
Tips that save applications
- Use the current year’s form only. KCB states that forms from previous years will not be accepted.
- Let the learner fill the parts meant for them, in their own handwriting where the form says so.
- Write the learner’s full name and NEMIS or assessment number on every page.
- Never attach extra pages where the form says not to.
- Keep a photocopy of the completed form for yourself.
When your folder is ready, use our bursaries and scholarships board to see which programmes fit your child, and set an email alert so you know the moment one opens. For constituency bursaries, read how to apply for an NG-CDF bursary.