Thousands of students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) have received a major boost after the government allocated Sh500 million to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to support their studies. This funding is expected to ease the financial burden on many students who have been struggling due to the lack of financial aid.
KMTC CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch confirmed the allocation, stating that the institution will now proceed to request the Treasury to release the funds. “Once the money reaches our bank, which may take a few weeks, we will ask HELB to open the portal for students to apply,” he said.
The reinstatement of this funding follows extensive engagement between KMTC and key government bodies, including the Parliamentary Committee on Health and the Ministry of Health. Oluoch highlighted that a past government directive had channeled Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) funds exclusively to institutions under the Ministry of Education, leaving KMTC students without access to financial aid. This exclusion placed a significant financial strain on many students, making it difficult for them to continue with their training.
To address this, KMTC leadership, through the Ministry of Health, appeared before multiple arms of the National Assembly to push for the reinstatement of the funding. These included engagements with the Pending Bills Verification Committee on January 29, 2024, and the Departmental Committee on Health on February 23, 2024. Additionally, CEO Oluoch, accompanied by Board Chairperson Joseah Cheruiyot, presented the matter to President William Ruto during the official opening of KMTC Kerio Valley Campus on January 9, 2025.
“We are pleased to announce that our efforts have borne fruit. The Government has allocated Ksh500 million for student loans in collaboration with HELB,” Oluoch said.
Since the programme’s inception in the 2022/2023 Financial Year, 22,342 KMTC students have already benefited from the funding. The latest allocation is expected to further support thousands of students pursuing medical training, ensuring continuity in their education and bolstering Kenya’s healthcare sector with well-trained professionals.
