Around them, about 20 visitors watch as he moves the ultrasound probe slowly from side to side across the abdomen, studying the images on the screen. He points out the kidney, liver, and spleen, demonstrating how the machine can help identify abnormalities in internal organs. 

The young man is Mubarak Adan, a Wings to Fly TVET Scholarship beneficiary  and a Diploma student in Radiology at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Nyeri. From Wajir County, he is also the institution's Vice President of student leadership, a responsibility that reflects his growing confidence and leadership ambition. 

Mubarak is among 805 scholars currently receiving full scholarship support under the Wings to Fly TVET Scholarship Programme, officially known as the Promotion of Youth Employment through TVET Scholarships Project, which has been supporting vulnerable young people since 2024.  

His demonstration was part of a visit by delegations from Equity Group Foundation (EGF) and KfW Development Bank, the German development finance institution supporting the programme. The visiting teams toured Nyeri National Polytechnic and KMTC Nyeri to witness firsthand how scholarship beneficiaries are translating training opportunities into practical skills and career pathways. 

The visit provided a glimpse into the impact of EGF's growing investment in technical and vocational education. The programme builds on EGF's long-standing experience in supporting young people through TVET scholarships in partnership with the Ministry of Education and development partners. To date, more than 4,340 young people have benefited from TVET scholarships supported through EGF, including 4,280 beneficiaries in Kenya and 60 beneficiaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Across the broader TVET scholarship portfolio, 33 percent of beneficiaries have pursued Information Technology-related courses while 31 percent have studied science and engineering. Others have enrolled in agriculture and environmental sciences, hospitality and tourism, business and management, and other technical disciplines. 

The EGF team was led by Hannah Kimani, General Manager for Education and Leadership Development, while the KfW delegation was led by Kristina Laarmann, Head of KfW's office in Kenya. The teams visited Nyeri National Polytechnic and Nyeri KMTC to see how scholarship beneficiaries were translating their training into practical skills. 

Impressed by the students' abilities and personal journeys, Laarmann said: 

"It was very inspiring to hear the stories of the students, to see what they are learning here, to see how much grit and determination they have. That also makes me very positive about their future and their ability to fulfil their aspirations," she said. 

Mubarak was among several KMTC students who demonstrated their training. Others showcased their skills in trauma care and medical laboratory science, including laboratory testing to identify disease-causing pathogens. 

At Nyeri National Polytechnic, scholarship beneficiaries in the Fashion and Design Department showcased their creative work. Among them was Immaculate Wachira, a third-year student a Wings to Fly TVET Scholarship beneficiary  whose passion for fashion has grown into an ambition to establish her own fashion line. 

She revealed that she had used part of her scholarship upkeep allowance to buy a manual sewing machine, which she now uses to sharpen her skills. With it, she has learnt to make different designs, including school uniforms, as she works towards becoming a professional fashion designer. 

At one moment, emotions ran high as Immaculate recounted the struggles that preceded her scholarship. Coming from a family that could not afford her tertiary education, she had resorted to hawking maandazi on the streets to complement the household’s income. 

In the Biomedical Engineering Department, two other beneficiaries demonstrated how to maintain medical equipment, including incubators and a modern dental operating chair used during dental procedures. 

For Laarmann , such training is important in preparing young people for a changing labour market. She noted that technical education, particularly when complemented by practical attachments in private sector companies, can create pathways into employment in Kenya and even abroad. 

She also commended EGF for going beyond tuition support to invest in the broader development of its scholars through mentorship, psychosocial support and leadership training. 

"It is not only the scholarship, it is not only the paying of the fees, but it is much more. It's a holistic approach. So you have the mentorship programme, the social psychological programme, there's leadership training. You can really see with these young people that they have been trained in these areas. They're confident speakers," she said. 

Hannah Kimani said EGF was encouraged by the progress beneficiaries were making, with some already applying their skills through part-time engagements while still studying. The partnership with KfW, which has supported the Wings to Fly scholarship programme since 2013, has helped extend educational opportunities from secondary school to technical and vocational training. 

As the programme expands to reach even more young people across Kenya, the demonstrations witnessed in Nyeri offer a powerful glimpse into what becomes possible when talent is matched with opportunity. From healthcare and engineering to fashion, agribusiness and entrepreneurship, TVET scholarships are helping vulnerable young people gain practical skills, build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development. 

To further expand access to these opportunities, Equity Group Foundation (EGF), through its Education and Leadership Development pillar, is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of beneficiaries under the Wings to Fly - Promotion of Young People Through TVET Scholarships Project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education's State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and funded by the German Government through KfW Development Bank. 

The project seeks to provide 1,200 scholarships to vulnerable Kenyan youth aged 18 to 35 years to pursue Level 5 Certificate and Level 6 Diploma programmes in food and agriculture-related disciplines across 51 participating TVET institutions, including four special institutions serving learners with disabilities. Beneficiaries will receive tuition support, mentorship, financial literacy training and industry-oriented exposure designed to strengthen their transition into employment and entrepreneurship. 

Eligible applicants can apply through either of the following channels: 

Physical Application 

Online Application 

Application deadline: Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at 4:30 PM. 

For scholars like Mubarak, Immaculate, and hundreds of others, the programme represents far more than a scholarship. It is an opportunity to build skills, pursue careers, create enterprises and contribute meaningfully to their communities.  

As Kenya continues to invest in skills development, initiatives such as the Wings to Fly TVET Scholarship Programme are demonstrating how access to technical and vocational training can unlock potential, create pathways to employment and empower a new generation of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs. 

Representatives from KfW and Equity Group Foundation, alongside the leadership of Nyeri National Polytechnic, pose for a group photo outside the institution's administration block following a meeting.

Fashion and Design students at Nyeri National Polytechnic, Immaculate Wachira (left) and Rhoda Njola (right), demonstrate how they cut fabric before stitching it into finished designs.

The KfW visiting team was impressed by the technical knowledge demonstrated by Brian Ali and Merietha Sidi, sharing advice and insights on building successful careers in engineering. 

Mubarak Adan, a Diploma in Radiology student at Nyeri KMTC, prepares the ultrasound machine ahead of the demonstration to the visiting EGF and KfW delegation.