Plans to establish a campus of the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Makuyu, Maragua Constituency, have been finalised, paving the way for construction to commence once the ongoing tendering process is completed.
The Sh400 million project has gained momentum following the successful relocation of the local chief’s offices, which were previously situated on the parcel of land designated for the institution. The relocation has freed the site and cleared the way for preparatory works ahead of the groundbreaking.
Maragua Member of Parliament Mary Waithera said the national government has already allocated Sh400 million for the construction of tuition blocks at the Makuyu KMTC campus. She added that the local National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) will finance the construction of an administration block to complement the project.
Speaking on Thursday during the official opening of the new chief’s offices in Makuyu, Waithera confirmed that all critical requirements for the establishment of the institution have been met.
“We are glad that the designs and land documentation are complete and the tendering process for the contractor is currently underway. Once this is concluded, construction will begin immediately,” she said.
Upon completion, the Makuyu campus will become the third KMTC campus in Murang’a County after the existing branches in Murang’a town and Kangema. The new institution is projected to accommodate approximately 3,000 students, significantly expanding access to medical and health-related training opportunities in the county and neighbouring regions.
Waithera noted that the institution is expected to transform the socio-economic landscape of Makuyu and its environs. She explained that the influx of students, lecturers and support staff will stimulate local businesses, create employment opportunities and attract new investments.
“The establishment of this KMTC branch will revolutionise the economy of Makuyu. Traders, landlords and service providers will benefit from increased population and economic activity associated with the institution,” she said.
In addition to tuition and administration blocks, the campus will benefit from student hostels to be constructed by the Ministry of Housing. The hostels will be developed alongside a new affordable housing project planned within the institution’s neighbourhood, further enhancing infrastructure and living standards in the area.
The MP said integrating the KMTC campus with the affordable housing programme aligns with the government’s broader development agenda of expanding access to education, strengthening health training capacity and promoting decent housing across the country.
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the project, describing it as a game changer for Makuyu and the wider Maragua area. They expressed optimism that the campus will ease the burden on students who previously had to travel far from home to pursue medical training.
Residents also noted that the institution is likely to improve social amenities, including roads and water and electricity connectivity, as infrastructure is upgraded to support the growing population.
“With land secured, funding allocated and designs ready, the Makuyu KMTC campus is firmly on course to become a key centre for medical training and a catalyst for socio-economic transformation in the region,” Waithera added.
By Bernard Munyao and Purity Mugo
