Funding Crisis Impacts KMTC: 34% of Students Fail to Report, Sh1. 54B in Unpaid Fees Threaten Healthcare
Kenya’s healthcare training system is encountering a significant crisis, as more than a third of students admitted to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) are failing to report due to financial constraints.
KMTC CEO Kelly Oluoch disclosed the concerning statistics during a recent briefing, emphasizing that 34% of students who have been offered admission do not appear — while an additional 27% withdraw midway for the same issue.
Oluoch indicated that the college is presently laden with Sh1. 54 billion in unpaid student fees, illustrating a dire image of financial hardships among learners.
“We are witnessing too many young, passionate students abandoning their aspirations of working in healthcare because they simply cannot manage the cost of education,” he stated.
KMTC is Kenya’s leading institution for educating healthcare professionals, providing a significant number of nurses, clinical officers, and community health workers throughout the nation.
However, these funding obstacles now jeopardize efforts to enhance the country’s healthcare system, particularly in rural and underserved regions where the demand is most critical.
The rates of dropout and non-reporting are not merely academic issues — they represent a national threat to healthcare provision and the upcoming workforce.
Oluoch is now appealing to the government, donors, and the private sector to urgently provide solutions.
These solutions include improved scholarship programs, adaptable fee payment arrangements, and sustainable funding models for students in need.
“If we neglect to assist these students today, we are jeopardizing our capacity to provide quality healthcare in the future,” he cautioned.
As Kenya confronts challenges related to healthcare staffing shortages and increasing demand for medical services, the KMTC funding crisis highlights a more profound issue: access to education is not solely about opportunity — it is about ensuring the future of public health.