Kenya’s severe shortage of health workers has pushed the government to fast-track major reforms in the health sector, among them extending Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) support to students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the country is operating with a deficit of 80,000 health professionals, a gap he described as a growing threat to national development as demand for health services continues to rise.
Speaking during KMTC’s 94th graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 4, 2025, Prof Kindiki announced that a high-level inter-ministerial meeting will be held to conclude the rollout plan that will allow KMTC trainees to start accessing HELB loans. The State has already approved the institution’s inclusion in the funding scheme.
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He said easing the financial burden on medical trainees was a key plank in the government’s strategy to attract more young people into the health profession and address the staffing crisis across counties.
To widen training capacity, Prof Kindiki revealed that 18 new KMTC campuses will be operationalised immediately at a cost of Sh1 billion, enabling the college to admit more students and support efforts to close the workforce gap.
The DP also pointed to ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening service delivery, including the deployment of 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who now offer preventive and household-level care across all 1,250 wards. The CHPs are supported by Community Health Assistants trained at KMTC.
Prof Kindiki noted that the reforms are part of a broader push to expand access to healthcare, with the number of Kenyans covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) rising to 28 million, up from 7.5 million two years ago.
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He added that partnerships to improve the supply of medical equipment and ensure timely delivery of essential medicines are being implemented nationwide.
To support graduates seeking employment abroad, he said the Youth Enterprise Fund has rolled out small grants to help young professionals prepare for overseas job opportunities and gain global experience before returning home.
Prof Kindiki praised KMTC for producing 80 per cent of Kenya’s middle-level health workforce, saying the institution remains central to the country’s journey toward universal health coverage.
By Mercy Kokwon
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