Bright students from vulnerable families are set to benefit from the Macmillan Medical Training College scholarships, aimed at expanding access to education and addressing unemployment and skills gaps among Kenyan youth.
The college Director Josephat Moses Ochieng announced the launch of the Afya Bora Scholarship Programme and the Women in Tech Empowerment Programme, describing them as transformative interventions designed to create equal opportunities and support national development.
Addressing the press in Nairobi Friday, Ochieng said the initiatives go beyond institutional goals and they are focused on shaping the country’s future by targeting vulnerable and underserved groups.
“Today’s event is not simply about a college launch or an institutional programme. Today’s event is about the future of of Kenya,” he said.
The Director noted that many young people face significant barriers after completing secondary education, with thousands finding themselves unable to pursue further studies due to financial constraints.
“It is about the young person who has completed Form Four but cannot afford college and the talented girl from an ordinary family, who dreams of entering the technology space,” Ochieng added.
According to the director, Kenya continues to grapple with youth unemployment, economic strain on families and an overstretched healthcare system, even as global demand for skilled labour rises due to rapid technological advancements.
“As institutions of training, we cannot remain silent observers, while the future of our young people hangs in the balance,” he said.
The Afya Bora Scholarship Programme will offer full and partial sponsorships to students pursuing accredited medical and healthcare courses, with the aim of increasing the number of qualified health professionals in the country.
Ochieng emphasized that the programme responds directly to the growing demand for healthcare workers, especially as the government pushes for universal health coverage.
“Healthcare systems cannot function without trained personnel, biomedical colleges like Macmillan are helping this country train the healthcare workers that Kenya urgently needs,” he stated.
In addition, the Women in Tech Empowerment Programme will provide fully sponsored training opportunities for women aged between 18 and 40 years.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with NIA Innovation and Technology Training College, seeks to bridge the gender gap in the technology sector.
Ochieng observed that women remain underrepresented in digital and innovation spaces despite the growing importance of technology in shaping economies.
“We cannot speak about digital transformation while excluding half the population from the digital economy,” he said.
He added that the programme will equip women with skills in programming, digital entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, enabling them to compete in the global job market.
Both programmes are aligned with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and will be implemented within the framework of accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) standards.
“This ensures that our students receive practical, quality and nationally recognised training that responds directly to Kenya’s workforce needs,” Ochieng said.
The director reiterated the institution’s commitment to producing graduates, who are not only academically qualified, but also employable, innovative and globally competitive.
He further called on the government to expand funding opportunities to include students in accredited private colleges, noting that many continue to face financial challenges despite pursuing recognised courses.
“Students studying in accredited private colleges are still deserving of support, opportunity and dignity,” he said.
Ochieng urged the government of Kenya to adopt a more inclusive approach to education financing, arguing that access should be based on need and potential rather than the type of institution attended.
“If the country is serious about reducing unemployment and strengthening healthcare systems, then support must be based on need and potential,” he said, adding that “this discrimination must stop.”
He also highlighted the alignment of the programmes with global development priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, gender equality, economic growth and good health.
Ochieng maintained that Kenya has abundant talent, but limited access to opportunity remains a major challenge.
“What many young people lack is opportunity and institutions like ours must become bridges between talent and opportunity,” he said.
by Catherine Odoyo
