As demand for trained healthcare support personnel continues to create opportunities for young people seeking practical careers, Mercylife Training College in Kiambu Town has opened its September intake, offering a range of programmes designed to equip learners with hands-on skills for the healthcare industry.
The institution, located opposite Kiambu Law Courts within Mercylite Hospital, is inviting Form Four leavers and other aspiring professionals to enrol for its various certificate and skills-based programmes, with both full-time and part-time learning options available.
The college says its training model is anchored on practical skills, professional competence and exposure to real-world healthcare environments, giving students an opportunity to complement classroom instruction with hands-on experience.
Among the programmes on offer are Perioperative Theatre, Health Support Services/Nursing Assistant, Mortuary Science, Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Science Laboratory Technology, Counselling Psychology, Community Health and Phlebotomy.
The institution also offers Baking and Cake Decoration, providing an alternative pathway for learners interested in developing entrepreneurial and hospitality-related skills.
Mercylife says the courses are structured to respond to the growing need for technically skilled workers while giving young people an opportunity to pursue careers that can provide employment and self-employment opportunities.
For many Form Four leavers, the transition from secondary school to further education can be challenging, particularly for students looking for programmes that offer practical skills and relatively direct pathways into the job market.
The college’s September intake is therefore positioning technical and vocational training as an important option for young people who want to acquire marketable skills without necessarily following conventional university routes.
Mercylife Training College says it places emphasis on practical, hands-on learning, supported by qualified and experienced instructors.
The institution also highlights its modern facilities and equipment, industry linkages and student support services as some of the features intended to prepare trainees for the demands of the workplace.
In healthcare, practical competence is particularly important because many support roles require trainees to understand procedures, equipment, patient interaction and professional ethics in addition to theoretical knowledge.
The college says students are exposed to training designed to build confidence, discipline and technical competence, with the broader objective of preparing graduates to serve professionally in healthcare settings.
The training is also intended to help learners understand the responsibilities associated with working in environments where professionalism, confidentiality, teamwork and patient care are essential.
Recognising that some students may already be working or have other responsibilities, Mercylife has introduced flexible study arrangements.
Students can choose between full-time and part-time classes, allowing working learners and other applicants who may not be able to attend conventional daytime programmes to pursue further training.
The college says accommodation is also available, offering additional convenience to students travelling from outside Kiambu Town.
The institution is encouraging prospective students to confirm course availability, duration, fees and accreditation or regulatory requirements directly with the college before completing their enrolment.
The September intake is open to eligible applicants, including Form Four leavers and individuals seeking to acquire new practical skills.
The college lists a minimum KCSE requirement of a D (Plain or Plus) for admission, with applicants required to be at least 18 years old.
Prospective students are also expected to provide a copy of their National Identity Card or passport and two passport-size photographs.
The admission process includes a one-time, non-refundable admission fee of Sh2,500, as well as a file for document storage.
Mercylife is encouraging interested applicants to seek clarification on individual course requirements before applying, particularly because admission requirements may vary depending on the programme.
The expansion of skills-based training institutions comes at a time when Kenya continues to place emphasis on technical and vocational education as a means of addressing youth unemployment and developing a workforce equipped for the changing labour market.
Healthcare, in particular, requires a broad workforce extending beyond doctors and nurses to include trained support personnel, laboratory workers, community health practitioners and other specialised cadres.
Institutions offering practical training therefore have a role to play in helping young people acquire skills that can be applied in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, community programmes and other healthcare-related environments.
For Mercylife, the focus is on combining training with professional preparedness.
The college’s message to prospective students is built around three objectives — training, equipping and empowering learners to serve.
With the September intake now ongoing, the institution is urging interested applicants to begin the admission process early, citing limited spaces in some programmes.
Prospective students can visit the college in Kiambu Town, opposite Kiambu Law Courts, within Mercylite Hospital, for further information and admission guidance.
Applications and enquiries can also be made by phone or WhatsApp through 0711 162 999 or 0721 741 605.
As thousands of young Kenyans explore alternatives for acquiring employable skills after secondary school, Mercylife is betting on practical training as a bridge between education and the workplace — and on healthcare as one of the fields where professionally trained support personnel will remain essential.
The September intake is ongoing.
