The Equity Wings to Fly scholarship is a secondary school programme run by the Equity Group Foundation in Kenya. It supports bright learners from poor families through the whole of their secondary education. Applications are made at any Equity Bank branch, through an Equity Agent or on the Equity Group Foundation online registration page, and beneficiaries are chosen by a local selection board in each county based on their national examination results and their family circumstances.
One point matters for the 2027 school year: Kenya has moved from KCPE and the old 8-4-4 system to the Competency Based Curriculum, so entry into senior school now follows the KJSEA assessment at the end of Grade 9. The Foundation has not published a fixed 2027 application window that this article can quote, so the exact dates and score rules must be confirmed with the Foundation before you apply. This guide explains what is known about Wings to Fly eligibility, benefits, documents, the selection process and the steps to apply.
What Is the Equity Wings to Fly Scholarship?
Wings to Fly is the flagship education programme of the Equity Group Foundation, the social arm of Equity Group. It targets top-performing children from financially challenged backgrounds and places them in good secondary schools. Beneficiaries come from all 47 counties, so the programme is spread across the country rather than concentrated in a few regions. For many years the programme was supported by the Mastercard Foundation, and the Foundation has stated that the last intake funded by that partnership joined in 2021.
The scholarship is not a one-year grant. It follows the learner through the four years of secondary school, and it is often described together with the Equity Leaders Programme, which supports top performers after secondary school. Competition is heavy: past intakes have drawn tens of thousands of applications for roughly one thousand places, so a strong result alone does not guarantee a place.
Equity Wings to Fly Scholarship Requirements
The official description of the programme is short. Candidates must be academically strong, must come from a financially disadvantaged family and must be selected through the community process in their area. The detailed rules below come from past application cycles and should be treated as a guide, not as a confirmed 2027 checklist.
- Kenyan citizenship and residence in the county where you apply.
- A high result in the national transition assessment. In earlier years this was KCPE, and applicants with a very high mark were considered first. For learners now entering senior school, the equivalent result is the KJSEA outcome.
- Proof of financial need, which the community board checks through the school, the local administration and the family’s situation.
- Admission, or a clear route to admission, in a secondary or senior school.
- Complete documents. The Foundation has stated in past calls that applications without the required documents are rejected.
Some past calls also gave priority to orphans and to children in very vulnerable homes. Whether a minimum mark applies in the current cycle is not stated on the Foundation’s programme page, so do not rely on a mark quoted by a third party.
Wings to Fly Scholarship Eligibility for Grade 10 Learners
Many parents now search for the Wings to Fly Grade 10 scholarship because the first learners under the new curriculum join senior school as Grade 10. Under the CBC, the final primary exam KCPE no longer exists, and learners move from junior school to senior school based on the KJSEA. The principle behind Wings to Fly stays the same: the Foundation looks for top performers who cannot afford fees. The paperwork changes, because a KJSEA result slip replaces a KCPE slip.
Parents should not confuse this with the separate government Elimu scholarship for Grade 10 learners, which is run by the Ministry of Education and has its own requirements and its own application process. Applying to one does not automatically place a learner in the other, and each has its own deadline.
What Does the Wings to Fly Scholarship Cover?
The programme is described as comprehensive. According to the Foundation, support over the four years of secondary school includes the following items.
| Item | What it means for the learner |
|---|---|
| Tuition | School fees are paid for the full four years. |
| Accommodation | Boarding costs are covered for learners in boarding schools. |
| Books and learning materials | Textbooks and other materials needed for study. |
| Uniforms | School uniform and related items. |
| Shopping and pocket money | A shopping allowance and pocket money for personal needs. |
| Transport | Travel to and from school at the start and end of term. |
| Leadership training | Mentoring and leadership development during school holidays. |
The leadership and mentoring element is part of what separates Wings to Fly from a plain fee waiver. Learners are expected to remain active in the programme, keep up their academic performance and take part in the training offered.
How the Wings to Fly Selection Process Works
Selection is local. In each county, a Community Scholarship Selection Board reviews the applications. The board is made up of community leaders and is chaired by the County or Sub-County Director of Education. Its members know the families in the area, which helps it judge whether a child truly needs support.
The programme is publicised through chiefs’ forums, places of worship, radio and social media, and the board uses a mix of academic results and need to shortlist candidates. In past cycles, shortlisted learners were interviewed or visited before final selection, and successful candidates were then placed in schools and invited to a launch event. Because each county has its own board and its own number of places, the number of winners differs between counties.
How to Apply for the Equity Wings to Fly Scholarship Online
Applicants can use any of three routes: an Equity Bank branch, an Equity Agent or the online registration page of the Equity Group Foundation. The online system is hosted on the Foundation’s own domain, and applicants are advised to use only the official address to avoid fake sites. The steps below follow the pattern used in earlier cycles.
- Confirm that the application window is open by checking the Equity Group Foundation website and its official social media pages, or by calling the Foundation on +254 (020) 2744000.
- Collect the required documents: the learner’s national examination result slip (KCPE for earlier cohorts, KJSEA now), a birth certificate or other proof of identity, school admission details and any documents that show the family’s situation, such as death certificates for deceased parents.
- Scan the documents clearly, because the online process requires soft copies.
- Open the official registration page and create the application with the learner’s details and the parent or guardian’s details.
- Upload the documents and fill in every section. Missing information is a common reason for rejection.
- Submit the form before the closing date and keep a copy or screenshot of the confirmation.
- If you prefer to apply in person, take the same documents to an Equity Bank branch or an Equity Agent and ask for the Wings to Fly application.
The Foundation also provides the support address support@equitygroupfoundation.org for questions about applications.
Documents You Need for the Wings to Fly Application Form
The exact list is stated in each year’s call, but the following documents appear in most cycles.
- Result slip from the national examination body, either the original or a copy signed and stamped by the school.
- Birth certificate or notification of birth for the learner.
- Identity documents for the parent or guardian.
- Admission letter or details of the school the learner joins.
- Proof of vulnerability, for example death certificates, a letter from the chief or a letter from the school head.
- A declaration form, where the call asks for one, signed by the parent or guardian.
Keep both paper and digital copies, because one route may require the printed form and another the scan.
Wings to Fly Application Deadline for 2027
Deadlines depend on when national results are released, because the Foundation can only select learners after the results are out. In earlier years, results came out at the end of the year and cohorts were announced in January. Since the school calendar and the transition assessment have changed, the dates are different from the old KCPE cycle. For that reason, no single date is safe to quote for 2027.
The reliable approach is to check the official Equity Group Foundation website, watch the Foundation’s announcements and ask at the nearest Equity Bank branch as soon as the national results are released. If the call has not yet opened, prepare the documents in advance so that the application is ready on the first day.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Apply early in the window. Late applications may not reach the county board in time.
- Make sure every document is readable and matches the learner’s official names exactly.
- Get a clear supporting letter from the school head or local administration that describes the family’s situation honestly.
- Apply to other funds as well. The Ministry of Education Elimu scholarship, county bursaries and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund bursary all support learners in need, and applying to several increases the chance of at least one award.
- Ignore anyone who asks for money to secure a place. The scholarship has no application fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Equity Wings to Fly scholarship open for 2027?
The Foundation has not published a 2027 date that can be confirmed here. Check the official Equity Group Foundation website or call the Foundation to learn whether the call is open.
Who can apply for Wings to Fly?
Kenyan learners who perform very well in the national transition assessment and who come from financially disadvantaged families can apply. Final selection is made by the county selection board.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. Applications at branches, with agents and online are free, and anyone who asks for payment is not acting for the Foundation.
How long does the scholarship last?
It supports a learner through the four years of secondary school, as long as the learner stays in the programme and keeps performing.
Where do I apply?
At any Equity Bank branch, through an Equity Agent or on the online registration page of the Equity Group Foundation. For questions, call +254 (020) 2744000.