NAIROBI; Friday 25th September, 2026: Former First Lady and Patron of the Beyond Zero Initiative, H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, has urged nursing scholars to turn their education into a lifelong commitment to serving communities, noting that the true measure of their scholarship will not be the certificates they earn, but the lives they touch through quality and compassionate healthcare.
Speaking at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Nairobi Campus during the 2026 Beyond Zero Nursing Scholarship Cohort Engagement, Margaret said the scholarship represents an investment not only in the students, but also in families, communities and Kenya’s wider health system.
“You have been given an opportunity. Treat it with gratitude, but also with responsibility,” she told the scholars.
The 80 beneficiaries are pursuing training through the Beyond Zero Nursing Scholarship Programme, established in 2016 in partnership with the Ministry of Health and KMTC. The programme seeks to expand access to health training while strengthening Kenya’s health workforce, particularly in communities where skilled healthcare professionals are most needed.
The former First Lady said Beyond Zero’s experience through its mobile clinics demonstrated that bringing medical services closer to communities must be matched by investment in skilled health professionals.
“The clinics brought services closer to communities, particularly women and children who might otherwise have struggled to access care. But they also showed us, firsthand, that a mobile clinic, a piece of equipment or a commodity can only achieve so much without skilled health professionals,” she said.
Since its inception, the scholarship programme has supported the training of more than 1,400 students, many of whom have gone on to serve in health facilities and communities where their skills are greatly needed.
“When you give a young person an opportunity to train as a health professional, the impact extends far beyond that individual. A family benefits. A community benefits. And ultimately, the health system becomes stronger,” Margaret said.
The partnership has also evolved beyond scholarships. With support from Roche, which has supported the last three cohorts, the programme has expanded opportunities for Enrolled Community Health Nursing students while strengthening clinical competencies in areas including Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care and point-of-care ultrasound.
The partners are also exploring digital learning and emerging technologies to enhance health-worker training.
Margaret said the evolution of the partnership reflects the changing nature of healthcare and the need for institutions and partners to adapt to emerging demands.
“Healthcare itself is changing. Our partnerships must therefore continue to grow with the needs of our health system,” she said.
She thanked the Ministry of Health and KMTC for their stewardship and training role, the World Bank for helping establish the scholarship programme, and Roche for sustaining and expanding the initiative.
The Beyond Zero Patron also called for more partners to invest in Kenya’s health workforce, noting that the demand for skilled healthcare workers remains significant, particularly in communities where access to services is most constrained.
Speaking at the engagement, KMTC Board Chair Mr. Joseah K. Cheruiyot said the programme contributes to the institution’s Strategic Plan and its vision of becoming a globally competitive institution for the training of human resources for health.
The Institution’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, emphasised the broader value of the scholarship, telling the scholars: “This scholarship is much more than financial assistance; it is an investment in your potential, your families and ultimately in the communities that you will serve.”
Jacqueline Wambua, General Manager, East Africa, Roche Kenya Limited, said: “Our partnership is helping to address two interconnected challenges: the need to develop a pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals and the financial barriers that prevent talented young people from pursuing careers in nursing.”
The engagement brought together representatives from partner organisations, including Roche Kenya Ltd, the Rockefeller Foundation, Shinnyo-en Kenya, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, Vivo Energy Kenya, the World Bank, The Family Group Foundation and Equity Group.
As the 80 scholars begin their training, the Beyond Zero-KMTC partnership continues to link investment in education with the broader goal of strengthening Kenya’s health workforce and extending quality healthcare to communities across the country.
