The Beyond Zero Nursing Scholarship Programme, spearheaded by former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, offers young Kenyans an opportunity to train as community health nurses through a partnership with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

For the 2026/2027 academic year, KMTC and Beyond Zero offered full scholarships for the two-year Certificate in Community Health Nursing programme, with priority given to qualified applicants from selected Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties.

On September 25, Margaret Kenyatta launched the scholarship for 80 students, including 48 female and 32 male, from 23 counties.

The Nursing Fund was launched through a partnership between Beyond Zero, the Ministry of Health, and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), targeting students from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties and other underserved communities.

Beyond Zero Scholarship History

Beneficiaries receive support to complete a two-year Certificate in Community Health Nursing course at KMTC, increasing the number of trained health workers available in underserved areas.

Through the programme, beneficiaries are trained to strengthen access to primary healthcare, with a focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, while helping address healthcare workforce shortages.

Since its inception, the scholarship program has recorded a 96 percent pass rate in final qualifying examinations, with more than 74 percent of graduates serving in national and county health facilities.

Funding for the programme has included support from the World Bank and Roche.

The first cohort comprised 400 beneficiaries supported through the Kenya Health Sector Support Project, while the second and third cohorts had 800 beneficiaries funded through the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project.

The March 2024 cohort comprised 130 Roche-funded beneficiaries admitted to eight KMTC campuses in Kitui, Garissa, Loitokitok, Bomet, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Kilifi and Msambweni.

After completing their training, many beneficiaries are employed by county governments and deployed to health facilities within their communities, where they provide reproductive, maternal, and other primary healthcare services.

Requirements For Students

Applicants for the Certificate in Community Health Nursing under the KMTC/Beyond Zero programme must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • A KCSE mean grade of C- or equivalent qualification.
  • At least C- in English or Kiswahili.
  • At least C- in Biology.
  • At least D+ in one of the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry.
  • The course runs for two years.
  • Priority is given to qualified applicants from selected ASAL counties, underserved minorities, and other Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs).

How to Apply Through KMTC

Once KMTC advertises the Beyond Zero Nursing Scholarship, students can apply through the KMTC admissions portal by following these steps:

  • Visit the KMTC admissions portal at admissions.kmtc.ac.ke.
  • If you do not already have one, register for an account using a valid personal email address.
  • Log in to your KMTC account and complete the online application form.
  • Review the information provided, make any necessary corrections and save the changes.
  • From the dashboard, click “Apply Beyond Zero Scholarship.”
  • Fill in the required scholarship details and review the application before submitting it.

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Beyond Zero Nursing Scholarship: Requirements, Eligibility and How to Apply Via KMTC
KMTC students. PHOTO/KMTC