PMI Kenya, Unicaf Unveil 80% Scholarships for Project Professionals
PMI Kenya Chapter President Maureen Mbithi Ochang. (Photo By Mbungu Harrison)
By Mbungu Harrison
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenyan project managers and students eyeing growth in a competitive job market are set to benefit from university scholarships of up to 80 per cent following a new deal between the Project Management Institute (PMI) Kenya Chapter and Unicaf.
The three-year partnership will give eligible PMI Kenya members, including student members, preferential access to scholarships for selected Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programes offered through Unicaf and its partner universities.
In a statement, PMI Kenya Chapter President Maureen Mbithi Ochang said the deal was part of the Chapter’s plan to support members throughout their career progression.
“The career of a project professional does not stand still. While professional certifications such as PMP give a strong foundation, professionals are increasingly expected to understand the wider business, lead people, drive transformation, and link project delivery to organisational value,” she said.
According to her the partnership will allow members to build complementary skills in business, leadership, finance and technology.
According to PMI’s Pulse of the Profession boosting business acumen 2025 report, only 18 per cent of project professionals globally demonstrate high business acumen, yet they consistently outperform their peers in meeting business goals, keeping to schedules and managing budgets.
Ms Ochang said the opportunity was also targeted at students and early-career professionals seeking to grow into seasoned project leaders.
“Kenya has an ambitious generation of young people entering a world of work that will keep evolving. We want them to embrace continuous learning.
As their responsibilities grow, so should their knowledge, confidence and ability to contribute,” she said.
The scholarships cover programmes offered through the University of East London, University of Suffolk, University of California – Riverside Extension, and Unicaf University.
The courses will be offered online, allowing working professionals to study without leaving their jobs, and will also be extended to immediate family members including spouses and children.
The partnership comes ahead of the PMI Global Summit Series in Cape Town scheduled for September 14-15, 2026, which will bring together project professionals from across Africa to exchange knowledge and explore emerging challenges in the profession.
“Our ambition is to build a community of project professionals who never stop growing. The more we invest in them, the greater their ability to lead and deliver projects that will shape our future,” she said.
