The government has officially commissioned the construction of a Sh230 million worth of student hostel units to address the students’ housing shortage at the Kenya Medical Training Institute (KMTC) Kapenguria Campus.
The institution that happens to be the heartbeat of tertiary education within West Pokot County, with a student population of 2,000 partaking in various medical training courses, will see a paradigm shift on matters of accommodation since three-quarters of the students rely on private housing arrangements that seem unaffordable for many.
Speaking to Kapenguria KMTC students after launching the 580-bed capacity hostel at the institution, President William Ruto said the government was targeting the construction of a total of 2,500 student hostels in Tertiary Vocational Education Training Institutions (TVETS) within the county.
Dr. Ruto added that the government is also going to build university students’ hostels for the upcoming university within the county.
“Why are we using our housing fund to build these hostels so that we have our students pursuing their learning under a modern environment?” the president asked.
Following an appeal from the institution for more classrooms, Dr. Ruto promised construction of 20 classrooms, directing the office of Principal Secretary Hinga to work out modalities to ensure the project that will cost Sh40 million is sealed.
He added that plans will be made to ensure the institution is properly fenced.
“This is one that I invested a lot in because the success of our Universal Health Coverage depends on adequate human resources. As of now we have 270,000 people in this county registered under SHA, and we are sending money to all our health facilities, including dispensaries, health centres, and levels 4 and 5 within the county. The reason as to why we are sending money to all these health facilities is to make health services universal to everyone.
He reiterated that unlike under the defunct NHIF, where money was being channelled to a few big health facilities, SHA has ensured all health facilities, from the lowest, get the funding.
He underscored the value of health training, saying without the professional health human resources which KMTC is responsible for, churning out the health sector will have challenges even if there are funds and financial resources.
“We need nurses, clinicians, lab technicians, doctors and all other professionals in the health sector since they are core to the success of matters of Universal Health Coverage,” he insisted.
He disclosed that for the past one year the government has pumped in more resources for the ongoing process of hiring more KMTC lecturers together with ensuring that all students become beneficiaries of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The president challenged the area Members of Parliament to support the legislation sent to Parliament that provides for every student joining KMTC to get to learn based on their intellectual capacity and not their financial muscles.
“We want every Kenyan child once admitted to a KMTC, polytechnic or TVET institution to get to learn irrespective of their family, social and economic background. Every student must have a chance to learn once admitted, and we can discuss later how that money will be paid later,” stated the president, saying this should be manifested starting January once the legislation is sent back to Parliament and soon going for public participation goes through.
“We want equity so that every student has a chance irrespective of their backgrounds across the country,” said Dr Ruto.
The president was accompanied by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin and all elected area MPs from the county.
By Richard Muhambe
