KCB Foundation has expanded its education support programme beyond Kenya with the launch of the KCB Scholars Programme in South Sudan, awarding scholarships to 50 medical students at the University of Juba.
The inaugural cohort, comprising 30 male and 20 female third-year medical students, will receive financial support to complete their training and prepare for careers in the country’s health sector.
The initiative seeks to address barriers to higher education while helping South Sudan build a larger pool of skilled professionals at a time when the country faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers.
Speaking during the launch at the University of Juba, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said investment in medical education would help strengthen the country’s health workforce.
“South Sudan needs a strong, skilled and committed health workforce. These scholarships will therefore go a long way in enabling young South Sudanese men and women to acquire skills that their country urgently needs,” Njonjo said.
The scholarship programme comes against a backdrop of limited access to tertiary education in South Sudan.
According to UNESCO, the country’s gross tertiary enrolment ratio stands at about 2.5 per cent, placing it among the countries with the lowest levels of higher education participation globally.
South Sudan has seven public and private universities serving a population of more than 12 million people. Limited infrastructure, funding and academic capacity have continued to constrain access to university education, contributing to shortages of skilled professionals across key sectors.
Healthcare is among the areas facing the greatest pressure.
A 2025 analysis published by the South Sudan Medical Journal estimates that the country has about 7.6 skilled health workers for every 10,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation threshold of 45.5 health workers per 10,000 people considered necessary to achieve universal health coverage.
The new scholarships are therefore expected to help increase the number of trained medical professionals entering the country’s health system.
Programme expands regional footprint
The KCB Scholars Programme was established in Kenya in 2007 and has supported thousands of students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
KCB Foundation says the programme has so far awarded more than 7,000 secondary school scholarships and over 600 tertiary scholarships.
The initiative has recorded a 99 per cent secondary school completion rate, alongside an 84 per cent transition rate to universities and colleges.
The expansion into South Sudan marks a broader regional focus by the foundation, with education and skills development positioned as key drivers of economic and social development.
The South Sudanese government welcomed the partnership, describing education investment as critical to the country’s future.
“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 Omot Okony Olok Guon, Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
Focus on long-term impact
KCB Foundation said it will continue to pursue partnerships in South Sudan and across the region aimed at widening access to education, skills development and economic opportunities.
The foundation said its interventions will focus on creating sustainable livelihoods and delivering long-term benefits to communities.
For the 50 medical students at the University of Juba, the scholarship offers an opportunity to complete their professional training while positioning them to contribute to a health system in need of more qualified personnel.
The programme therefore combines education support with workforce development, as South Sudan seeks to strengthen its human capital and improve access to essential services.