“When we formed the investor foundation, Bob Collymore and I asked ourselves: what should we do? How do we change Kenya?” recalls Michael Joseph, Chairman of the M-PESA Foundation.
“The biggest challenge we face is corruption; it’s endemic in everyday life.”
Joseph believes Kenya has all the ingredients to be a great nation. “But we’re not yet great. We can only get there if we eliminate corruption.”
Building Integrity from the Ground Up
The solution, Joseph says, starts with the youth. “Let’s build a school—not just for basic education, but to produce leaders who value integrity in how they behave and lead. That’s how we started the M-PESA Foundation Academy.”
More Than a School: A Launchpad for Ethical Leaders
“It’s not just a school; it’s an academy,” Joseph emphasises. “I want every student to get into a university of their choice and when they graduate, return to Kenya to lead.”
“This is Bob’s and my idea of how to change Kenya,” he said during Safaricom’s 18th anniversary.
World-Class Education for Disadvantaged Talent
The M-PESA Foundation Academy offers top-tier Kenyan education to bright, economically disadvantaged students from across the country. Located on a 100-acre campus in Mangú, the academy opened in 2016 and currently hosts 487 students.
“When we welcomed our first cohort, it marked the start of the Foundation’s biggest—and most heartfelt—programme,” said Joseph during the academy’s launch by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Rethinking Education to Nurture Transformational Leaders
“When we envisioned this institution, the board and trustees were clear: if Kenya wants transformational leaders, we must innovate in how we educate,” Joseph said.
Rigorous, Inclusive Admissions Process
Applications open every March and close in December. Each year, the academy aims to admit up to four students per county through a multi-stage selection process—including phone interviews, in-person assessments, and home visits.
“I thank M-PESA Foundation for giving hope and a future to thousands of young Kenyans,” said President Kenyatta. “It reminds us that our past doesn’t define our future.”
Championing Diversity and Inclusion
“We believe in inclusion,” Joseph said. “Our student body includes children with mobility challenges, albinism, and soon, those with auditory and visual impairments.”
A Holistic Learning Environment
The academy offers world-class facilities:
- Indoor sports hall
- Running track and sports field
- Swimming pools and squash courts
- Music centre
- 500-seat auditorium
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