Scholarships

Finlays Community Trust realizes and appreciates the human capital needs of the community, and one of the surest ways of spurring capacity in this regard is to offer scholarships.

Our scholarships fall under four categories: Secondary School, TVET, Undergraduate (local universities) and Masters (UK universities) scholarship programmes. To date, the four scholarship initiatives have benefited 586 secondary school students, 40 TVET students (new), 400 undergraduate students, and 25 graduate students, at a cost of Kshs 296.6 million. These investments have not only enhanced access to quality education, but also catalysed economic progress within these communities, instilling a spirit of innovation and creativity, and nurturing self-resilience.

The Secondary School Scholarship programme was started in 1989. It was run by our founder until 2010, when the Trust was established. Twenty (20) students are sponsored annually through their secondary school education. So far, five hundred and eighty-six (586) students have benefitted from this scholarship at a total cost of Ksh. 53.5M.

The TVET Scholarship programme began in 2024. It was inspired by the need to support students who desire to pursue TVET education but are unable to do so due to financial constraints. Its objective is to offer beneficiaries with distinct technical and soft abilities that will allow them to compete in the local labour market. By exposing students to a variety of technical and vocational training skills, they can diversify their personal and professional networks, which are essential for their career development. Each year, forty (40) students from Bomet and Kericho counties are admitted to the programme through a highly competitive application process. The students pursue a variety of courses including Automotive Engineering, Building & Construction, Electrical Installation, and Plumbing Technology, among others. In addition to the scholarship, the recipients receive funding for a startup toolkit, allowing them to become self-sufficient after graduation. Furthermore, as part of their training, Browns Plantations Kenya offers attachment opportunities to get practical experience as they prepare to graduate. The overall scholarship cost is approximately Kshs 8.3 million. The scholarship is intended for qualified candidates who have completed their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and are from Bomet and Kericho counties. It is offered in collaboration with two TVET institutions: Belgut Technical Training Institute in Belgut Constituency, Kericho County, and Konoin Technical Training Institute in Konoin Constituency, Bomet County.

The Undergraduate University Scholarship Programme was started way back in 1991 targeting bright and needy students from the community. It was run by our founder until 2010, when the Trust was established. Each year, 28 students are accepted into the program. Students from all the eleven constituencies in the two counties are eligible for the scholarship. A highly competitive process is used to select the recipient. The scholarship is valued at Kshs. 150,000/= per student per academic year for the duration of the program. As part of the scholarship package, the recipients also receive a laptop computer. The scholarship has benefited 400 undergraduate degree students and has cost more than Ksh. 118.8 million since its inception.

Finlays Community Trust also administers Masters scholarship programme for bright and needy students from Bomet and Kericho Counties. The Masters Scholarship was inspired by the need to provide beneficiaries with unique technical and soft skills, allowing them to compete in both the local and global labour markets. It is funded by Swire Group and administered by Finlays Community Trust. By exposing the students to different cultures, they are able to expand their personal and professional networks which are key to the development of their communities. Two students are chosen each year through a highly competitive process to pursue a master’s degree at a university of their choice in the United Kingdom. Since its inception, the scholarship has benefited 25 students and has cost more than Kshs 116 million.