Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner.
 

Status update - November 20, 2019

Kiva has moved this Lending Partner to inactive status.  This means Strathmore University is no longer fundraising loans on Kiva, though Kiva fully expects the partner to continue to send repayments owed to Kiva lenders as long as the partner has an outstanding balance. Strathmore was moved to inactive status because their full-tuition loans are experiencing continued high delinquency due to graduates struggling to find jobs, doing unpaid internships, and ultimately not earning enough to repay the full loan amount due each month. If and when delinquency improves and this partner requests to fundraise again on Kiva, Kiva will first conduct any additional monitoring and due diligence tasks we believe necessary.

Partner Description

Strathmore University is one of the leading private chartered universities in Kenya, and is a privately owned, not for profit institution. Originally established in 1961 as an Advanced-level Sixth Form College with inspiration and encouragement from Saint Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, Strathmore University started offering degrees in 2002 before becoming fully chartered in 2008. Tuition fees are a significant issue for students attending private universities in Kenya such as Strathmore University.  As of January 2012, about a third of applicants offered a place at the University each year do not enroll due to lack of tuition fees. The university has a long-term goal of 30% of its student population accessing some form of financial assistance by 2016. Toward that effort, Strathmore University's partnership with Kiva is a perfect fit, assisting more students where lack of tuition payment is impacting their education. Strathmore University will offer eligible students the ability to secure loans from Kiva lenders for tuition payments.

Tuition Loans

As of January 2012, Strathmore University will offer two types of tuition loans to approved students.  In order to be eligible for the Kiva loan program, students must maintain high academic standards, and come from a low-income household, among other requirements.

11 year: these long-term loans will include a grace period of up to five years, which includes the period of enrollment  and the first year after graduation.  During this time the borrower will not be required to make any payments.  At the end of the grace period, repayments will become due on a monthly basis.  The borrower will be charged an interest rate of 0% during the grace period of the loan, and 4% per annum for the remainder of the loan term.

4 year: these shorter loans will be available to enrolled students (second year and above) who face cash-flow constraints.  These loans will have no grace period.  Repayments will be due monthly, and the borrower will be charged 6% per annum. Two-thirds of the full repayment will be required before the student is able to graduate.

Watch this video to learn how Kiva loans have made a big difference for students at Strathmore.