Kenya is going through an important political and economic transition. Under the “Free Primary Education” policy, started in 2003, school fees and levies were abolished at the primary school level, relieving the household burden of financing primary education. Households, and public and private schools, responded immediately. The primary education gross enrollment rate jumped over 100%, with a student enrollment increase of close to 1 million from the previous year.

The growth and increased participation at the primary level of education has increased the demand for secondary education. Many of the students come from families that have been affected by AIDS, as well as poverty. They have successfully completed primary education, but remain without the financial means to continue on to secondary school. Kenya has 1.5 to 1.7 million children who have been orphaned due to AIDS. HIV/AIDS is eroding the family and community capacity to meet the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC), including economic and food security, education, nutrition, health, and emotional well-being. The number of OVC is expected to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. The Elimu Fund will provide opportunities to children who seek to overcome their difficult circumstances through education in a manner consistent with Kenyan societal values, and government policies and guidelines.

We believe there are two key obstacles that make access to secondary education more difficult for poor Kenyan youth. First, secondary school tuition and related costs continue to skyrocket; the financial resources needed to support a secondary education constitute the most serious challenge for many Kenyan families. Indeed many committed parents lack the resources to finance their children's education. Second, the public resources available are inadequate to meet the growing demand.