Who Gets in and Who's Left Out? Determinants of Selection in a Social Lending Scheme for Higher Education in Kenya
Working Paper #13

Who Gets in and Who's Left Out? Determinants of Selection in a Social Lending Scheme for Higher Education in Kenya

November 2025

In Sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries, obstacles to securing education financing often hinder students from accessing post-secondary education (Wanti, Wesselink, & Biemans, 2022). In Kenya, where financial barriers often impede students from pursuing higher education (Oketch, 2022), innovative financing initiatives from private sector actors, such as the Lending for Education in Africa Partnership (LEAP), have emerged as a complementary solution to government financing schemes. This paper sheds light on the factors influencing student selection for LEAP financing, ultimately aiming to contribute to the enhancement of equitable access to financial aid for tertiary education.