By Robert Mutasi 
The I&M Foundation, in partnership with Help Change Lives, has launched a scholarship programme supporting 211 students from 39 public universities across Kenya.
The initiative, which began in September 2026, provides financial assistance and digital learning tools to help students from vulnerable backgrounds access and complete university education.
Beyond covering tuition fees and providing living stipends, the programme seeks to equip beneficiaries with the resources needed to participate fully in digital learning. The scholars recently received brand-new laptops during a handover ceremony at I&M Bank headquarters in Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, I&M Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamed encouraged the students to remain resilient, embrace lifelong learning and seek guidance from mentors as they pursue their academic and career goals.
Drawing from his personal experiences, Mohamed said education gives young people the opportunity to shape their futures regardless of their backgrounds.
“Education gives you choices. It gives you a chance to take a different path, regardless of where you started,” Mohamed said.
He urged the beneficiaries to remain curious, ask questions and learn from people around them, noting that education extends beyond what students acquire in classrooms and through textbooks.
Through the foundation, he said, the bank aims to ease the financial burden on students and give them room to concentrate on their studies and identify their future career paths.
Mohamed also challenged the scholars to extend similar support to others when they are in a position to do so.
Dorine Nalo, Head of the I&M Foundation, said access to university education must be accompanied by adequate resources to help students succeed academically and develop skills relevant to the job market.
“Education remains one of the most powerful ways to transform lives and create opportunities for future generations,” Nalo said.
She noted that students require more than tuition support to benefit fully from university education, adding that access to digital tools and other learning resources is essential in preparing young people for future opportunities.
Nalo said the partnership with Help Change Lives reflects the foundation’s commitment to investing in students’ potential and supporting their ability to contribute to their communities and the country’s development.
The scholarship programme falls under the I&M Foundation’s Education and Skills Development pillar, which focuses on improving access to learning and expanding opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised communities.
The foundation works with specialised organisations to implement programmes designed to address specific community needs and deliver lasting benefits.
Its community initiatives receive financial backing from I&M Bank Kenya, which commits an annual endowment equivalent to two per cent of its profit before tax to support the foundation’s work.
The latest initiative adds digital inclusion to the foundation’s education support efforts, providing 211 university students with laptops alongside financial assistance as they pursue their studies across the country.