Against odds: How KenSAP transformed Twahir Malafu’s life

In Kenya, a child's access to education often depends on their socio-economic background.

Born and raised in an underprivileged family, Twahir Malafu had seen it all in life, yet the optimism for a brighter future never left him.

“I got 384 marks in KCPE. It was the best score in my primary school. I was called to Chavakali High School, but because of finances, my dream of joining the school could not materialise,” he said.

With his parents unemployed, Twahir found himself admitted to a local secondary school where he was confronted with the reality of overcoming numerous challenges.

The school, like many others in Kenya's rural setting, lacked basic infrastructure, including enough classrooms, sufficient learning materials, and adequate teaching staff.

Even as his parents struggled to raise the minimum required school fees, Twahir remained focused and excelled in his exams.

He scored an A minus—the best in the school's history—and became the top student in the sub-county.

“It was a humbling experience for me to get the grade. I wished I could get the maximum points, but I was comforted by the reality that I did my absolute best,” he said.

The result shone a radiant ray of hope in Twahir's life and opened doors that would eventually redefine his future.

He was enrolled into the Equity Leadership Programme, which gave him the opportunity to work in one of the bank’s branches in Nairobi.

The earnings offered some relief but were still not enough to meet his family’s many needs.

“My sister needed school fees. I had to step in. The earnings were a huge boost, but still, we had a deficit because the needs were extremely high,” he said.

Upon completing the programme, he took up a job in a hotel in Nairobi to supplement his income.

Due to mounting responsibilities and limited resources, Twahir could not join the university.

Balancing support for his family and enrolling at the University of Nairobi, where he was admitted to study Industrial Chemistry, became impossible. He deferred his studies but refused to give up.

As he juggled life in the bustling streets of Nairobi, Lady Luck came calling.

He received a phone call that changed his life.

“I had applied for the Kenya Scholars Access Program (KenSAP) after a friend gave me a heads-up. But I had even forgotten about it because I was busy chasing bills. This programme changed my life,” he narrated.

Twahir is now one of the few Kenyan youths pursuing higher education in North America, thanks to KenSAP.

As a student of Banking and Finance at Claremont McKenna College, his future is now brimming with hope and potential.

“As a student, I’m exposed to vast opportunities that I could only dream of. I now have the best opportunity to dream again and make my life better,” he added.

KenSAP helps high-achieving, low-income Kenyan high school graduates like Twahir gain admission to the most selective colleges and universities in North America—all with full financial aid.

Since its founding in 2004, the organisation has placed 320 students at top-tier institutions.

It is in line with this mission that KenSAP hosted a gala dinner on Wednesday to raise funds that will support high-performing students from underprivileged communities across the country.

The dinner featured an auction session where various items were sold to the highest bidders, with all proceeds going directly into the KenSAP programme.

KenSAP Executive Director Alan Davidson emphasised their core mission:

“Our goal is to support underprivileged Kenyan children in accessing education and opportunities that will better their lives.”

“In terms of where the funding goes to, this event usually raises about 15 to 20 percent of our annual budget, and all of the proceeds go to support students, alumni, and our programming,” Davidson said.

“This year, again, all of the proceeds will go. If we raise $90,000 net, it will be about 18 percent of our budget. Total income of the event will probably be something like $120,000 or $130,000, but then there are expenses. As you can see, it's expensive to be here.”

At least 20 students get the opportunity to benefit from this life-changing initiative each year.

A number of factors are considered when selecting beneficiaries.

“We've been taking students from all across Kenya, including from the refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab. Academic credentials are based on where you went to school,” he explained.

“So a student from a top national school scoring an A might not be surprising, but for a student in a local day school to get an A minus—that's huge. We factor in all these dynamics to identify the most qualified candidates for the program.”

While guiding its students through the admissions process, KenSAP also prepares them for American campus life—academically and culturally—and provides long-term support throughout their undergraduate studies and beyond.

At the most basic level, the financial aid granted to KenSAP's 320 undergraduates represents more than $100 million in educational aid to Kenya.

The program's broader societal impact is more difficult to quantify, but with more than half of KenSAP's graduates already contributing to Kenya’s economy—working in local firms, multinational companies, and NGOs—the returns are evident.