After more than five years of a protracted stalemate, Kenyatta University (KU) medical students have finally been granted access to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) for clinical training.
The breakthrough ends years of wrangling between the university and the hospital management, with the institution accusing the referral facility of shutting out its students despite being established primarily as a teaching hospital for KU’s medical school.
On Monday, excitement was palpable as the first batch of 200 medical students reported for induction at the level six facility, marking what many described as the dawn of a new era for medical training at KU.
Student leaders welcomed the development, saying it would ease the burden they had faced while seeking attachments in other hospitals.
“For years, the learners relied heavily on the Kiambu Level Five Hospital for clinical rotations, but this had become untenable following frequent doctors’ strikes that left students stranded without patients or supervisors.’’ They said
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Fred Latandi Ondieki, the chairman of KU’s Social Welfare and Co-curricular Activities and a fifth-year medicine student, said the stalemate had caused serious delays in their academic progression.
“This is a huge relief for us as medical students because KUTRRH has better facilities to help us in exams and also finalize our course. We thank the hospital management and other relevant government arms for unlocking this stalemate,” said Ondieki.
His colleagues Vincent Ochieng and Karen Wanjiru, both members of the Medical School Congress, echoed his sentiments, noting that the move would ensure students completed their studies on time without unnecessary disruptions.
“This hospital was established mainly as a teaching facility for KU medical students. We are happy that finally, we are here,” said Ochieng.
KUTRRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zainab Gura described the admission of the students as a “major milestone” that affirms one of the hospital’s core mandates providing training opportunities for KU students.
“About 100 learners reported on the first day, but beginning September we will be able to accommodate all the medical students from year three to year six. This marks a significant milestone after various discussions between the two institutions culminated in the admission of the first batch of trainees. We look forward to continuous collaboration going forward,” Dr. Gura told journalists in an interview.
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The tussle between KU and KUTRRH had previously attracted the attention of various government bodies, including the National Assembly and Senate Health Committees, which were forced to intervene on several occasions to broker a solution.
Education stakeholders and parents had also raised concern over the impasse, warning that prolonged delays in clinical training risked jeopardizing the future of hundreds of students pursuing medicine and related disciplines at KU.
With the standoff now resolved, students, faculty, and administrators expressed optimism that the partnership will not only enhance the quality of medical training but also strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.
“This is not just about students, it is also about patients who will now benefit from improved care as trainees gain practical skills in a modern referral hospital,” stated Wanjiru.
The integration of KU medical students into KUTRRH is expected to be fully rolled out by the start of the next academic year in September.
By John Kamau
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