Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.
I am happy to share that we have officially launched our Educating Linda Program to support girl education, in partnership with the First Lady of Kenya and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, at the Kenya State House. The program was chaired by the Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, myself, and the First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, E.G.H.
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady.
As part of Educating Linda, we are providing annual scholarships to 47 deserving, high performing, yet underprivileged Kenyan schoolgirls, until they complete their education. This will ensure they are not forced to abandon their education due to financial hardship. We truly believe that an educated girl transforms the entire community.
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.
During the program, together with the First Lady of Kenya, we took the opportunity to meet and encourage the Kenyan schoolgirls who are beneficiaries of the Educating Linda Program, and to hear directly from them and their parents about the impact the scholarships have had on their lives. The Educating Linda Program by Merck Foundation, in partnership with African First Ladies, is providing annual scholarships to more than 1,250 schoolgirls across 21 African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others. The program also ensures that thousands of schoolgirls across Africa receive essential school supplies, removing further practical obstacles to their education. When a girl is educated, an entire nation is empowered. Educated girls grow into empowered women who drive prosperity, strengthen families, and advance nations. That is the vision behind everything we do: girl education today for women empowerment tomorrow.
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.
Moreover, we have provided 328 scholarships for Kenyan healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved specialties, including Diabetes, Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry, Neurology, and many more. During the visit, we also conducted our Alumni Summit 2026, together with Kenya First Lady, to acknowledge and meet our alumni. Moreover, we met and recognized the Merck Foundation Awards winners of 2024 and 2025.
In partnership with the First Lady of Kenya, we are launching seven children’s storybooks titled “More Than a Mother”, “Educating Linda”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ride into the Future”, “Sugar Free Jude”, and “Mark’s Pressure”. These storybooks address critical social and health issues and will be available in both English and Swahili. Thousands of copies of these storybooks will be distributed to schoolchildren across Kenya.
We also annually launch eight important awards for excellence in media, film, fashion design, and song. Together, we have also conducted several editions of the Merck Foundation Health Media Training Program, enabling Kenyan journalists to be equipped to be the voice of the voiceless and report responsibly and effectively on sensitive topics, including infertility, child marriage, gender based violence, diabetes, and hypertension.
I invite the media and creative community apply for the awards, by clicking here.
Kind regards,
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)
CEO of Merck Foundation
