Kirinyaga County is inching closer to hosting its first-ever Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campus, a development that is expected to reshape both the health and education landscape of the region.
For years, aspiring medical students from Kirinyaga have been forced to seek training opportunities in neighboring counties such as Murang’a, Embu, and Nyeri.
The absence of a KMTC within the county has placed an extra financial burden on families, with many parents struggling to pay for accommodation, transport, and upkeep for their children.
If approved, the Kerugoya campus will bring this struggle to an end by offering local access to medical training.
The campus is designed to host between 250 and 500 students, making it a key pipeline for producing nurses, clinical officers, nutritionists, and other frontline health professionals.
Beyond education, the project is also expected to strengthen healthcare services across the county. With Kerugoya County Referral Hospital sitting at the heart of the town, students will be attached there for clinical rotations, helping to address persistent staffing shortages.
Health facilities in the sub-counties are also set to benefit from student placements and graduates, ensuring that communities in rural areas are better served.
County leaders say the institution will equally stimulate economic growth in Kerugoya town. Increased demand for student hostels, food outlets, and local transport is projected to create a ripple effect that benefits traders, landlords, and service providers.
The plan has now advanced to the County Assembly stage, with the Executive seeking approval to allocate public land for the construction of the campus.
The proposed site is currently occupied by the Public Works Department in Kerugoya town.
During a sitting of the Lands and Physical Planning Committee chaired by Tebere Ward MCA, Peter Karinga, members were briefed on the technical requirements. These include a 10-acre parcel of land adjacent to or near a Level 4 hospital, official registration of the land under KMTC, and a master plan providing for short, medium, and long-term development.
Karinga emphasized that the county cannot afford to miss this opportunity.
“This is about opening doors for our young people and strengthening our healthcare system. Kirinyaga is among the only two counties in the country without a KMTC campus. We must move with urgency to ensure this project takes root,” he said.
However, the proposal sparked debate among MCAs, with some raising concerns over the acreage requirement.
Kerugoya Ward MCA, Eric Muchina, argued that requiring 10 acres was unrealistic, noting that the Murang’a campus successfully operates on less than five acres.
He called for clarification from the Ministry of Health to avoid unnecessary delays.
In response, the committee directed the Executive to provide the necessary documents within 14 days to allow deliberations to proceed.
The journey to hosting a KMTC campus in Kerugoya is part of the broader push to expand access to higher education and professional training across Kenya.
KMTC remains the country’s leading institution for producing mid-level health workers, and the demand for its graduates continues to grow in line with the government’s universal health coverage agenda.
For Kirinyaga, the institution will not only empower its youth but also help address the shortage of healthcare personnel, especially in rural health centers that often grapple with understaffing. Leaders believe this will reduce patient waiting times, improve access to specialized services, and enhance overall health outcomes in the county.
Residents have welcomed the proposal, saying the campus will unlock opportunities for young people who have long been disadvantaged. They are hopeful that once complete, the institution will position Kerugoya as a hub of learning and innovation in the Mt. Kenya region.
If successful, the project will stand as a milestone in the county’s development record, offering a legacy of empowerment, improved healthcare, and economic progress for generations to come.
By David Wandeto
