Privacy Policy
Last updated: 26 August 2026
1. Our commitment to your privacy
scholarships4kenyans is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have under the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019.
Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019
"A data controller or data processor shall ensure that personal data is— (a) processed in accordance with the right to privacy of the data subject; (b) processed lawfully, fairly and transparently; (c) collected for explicit, specified and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner incompatible with those purposes; (d) adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is processed; (e) accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; (f) kept in a form which identifies the data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed; (g) not transferred outside Kenya unless there is proof of adequate data protection safeguards or consent from the data subject."
We apply these principles to every piece of personal data we handle.
2. What personal data we collect
We only collect information that is necessary to provide our scholarship matching and community services. This includes:
- Account information: full name, email address, phone number, password, and date of birth.
- Profile information: county, highest education level, field of study, CV or résumé (if uploaded), and referral source.
- Scholarship activity: submissions you post, scholarships you save, cover letters you draft, service requests, points and reward redemptions.
- Membership data: membership number, approval status, payment status, sponsorship details, and admin notes.
- Usage data: pages visited, last active time, device type, browser information, and session cookies that keep you signed in.
3. How we use your data
We use your personal data for the following explicit and legitimate purposes:
- To create and manage your membership account.
- To verify your identity and approve your membership.
- To match you with relevant Master's, PhD, and postdoctoral scholarship opportunities.
- To send you personalized email digests, announcements, and admin notifications.
- To process membership fee payments and reward points.
- To enable community features such as scholarship submissions and service requests.
- To improve our platform, monitor usage, and keep the service secure.
- To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights.
4. Legal basis for processing
Under the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, we process your personal data on the basis of your consent (provided when you register), the necessity to perform our contract with you as a member, and our legitimate interests in operating a secure, relevant scholarship platform.
5. Who we share your data with
We do not sell your personal data. We only share it with trusted service providers who help us run the platform, such as our cloud hosting, authentication, email delivery, payment processing, and AI-assisted scholarship parsing partners. All processors are bound by confidentiality and data protection obligations. We may also disclose data when required by law or to protect the safety and rights of our members.
6. Data security and retention
We protect your data using encryption, access controls, and role-based permissions. We keep your personal data only for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. When you delete your account, we will securely erase or anonymize your data within a reasonable period, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
7. Cookies and similar technologies
We use essential cookies to keep you signed in and maintain your session. We may also use basic analytics cookies to understand how members use the platform so we can improve it. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
8. International transfers
Some of our service providers may process data outside Kenya. When this happens, we ensure that adequate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or the provider's published privacy and security commitments, in compliance with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019.
9. Your data protection rights
As a data subject under Kenyan law, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
- Object to or restrict certain types of processing.
- Withdraw your consent at any time.
- Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details at the end of this policy.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or the law. We will notify members of material changes through the platform or by email. The latest version will always be available on this page with the updated date at the top.
11. Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us through the in-app messaging feature or the contact details listed on the scholarships4kenyans website. We will respond to your request as promptly as possible.