Funding Crisis Affects KMTC: 34% of Students Do Not Report, Sh1. 54B in Unpaid Fees Threatens Healthcare
Kenya’s healthcare training system is encountering a significant crisis, with more than one-third of students enrolled at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) failing to report due to a lack of funding.
KMTC CEO Kelly Oluoch articulated the concerning statistics during a recent briefing, emphasizing that 34% of students granted admission do not show up — while an additional 27% withdraw midway for the same reason.
Oluoch indicated that the college is currently encumbered with Sh1. 54 billion in outstanding student fees, depicting a grim scenario of financial hardships among learners.
“We are witnessing an alarming number of young, passionate students abandoning their aspirations to serve in healthcare due to their inability to afford continued education,” he stated.
KMTC is the foremost institution in Kenya for training healthcare professionals, providing the majority of nurses, clinical officers, and community health workers throughout the nation.
However, these funding obstacles now jeopardize efforts to enhance the nation’s healthcare system, particularly in rural and underserved regions where the demand is the most acute.
The rates of dropout and non-reporting are not merely academic issues — they represent a national threat to healthcare delivery and the future workforce.
Oluoch is presently urging the government, donors, and the private sector to promptly intervene with viable solutions.
These solutions include improved scholarship programs, flexible fee payment arrangements, and sustainable funding models for financially disadvantaged students.
“If we do not extend support to these students today, we are jeopardizing our capacity to provide quality healthcare in the future,” he cautioned.
As Kenya contends with deficits in healthcare staffing and a growing 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.