Conservation in Naboisho does not only protect wildlife. It helps keep children in school. And the strength behind that support comes, first and foremost, from the community itself.
The Naboisho Bursary Fund provides financial assistance to pay school fees for students for the 700+ families that are members of the conservancy.
What sets the Naboisho fund apart is that it is not simply a handout from benevolent donors or well-wishers. The Naboisho bursary is largely funded and sustained by the community themselves.
Landowners decide on the level of their contribution and support the fund through regular monthly payments. More than 75 percent of bursary funding for over 2,400 students comes directly from landowners. This represents a significant local investment and a strong belief in education as a path to a stronger future.
The fund is wholly land-owner driven and managed by an elected bursary committee. In this way, the fund not only embodies financial investment, but shared responsibility in practice.
Credible governance
For education support to carry trust, it has to be seen to work fairly. In Naboisho, the bursary is implemented through formal structures, including the bursary committee. It oversees distribution, maintains accountability, and helps ensure support reaches the families it is intended for. The conservancy’s role is to strengthen that framework.
Real financial impact
The numbers give the bursary real weight. It currently amounts to around KES 12 million per year, covering roughly 33% of school fees. It also stands at a level comparable to the government support provided to students in Siana Ward, Narok County, the ward in which Naboisho is located.
In Naboisho, education is not separate from conservation. It is one of the most tangible ways the model returns value to the people who make it possible. The bursary fund shows that when conservation is rooted in community ownership, its benefits extend well beyond the landscape.
