The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch, has emphasized the critical role of student funding in increasing the number of young people pursuing careers as health professionals in Kenya.
Dr. Oluoch was speaking at the 2nd Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Consultative Forum for Funders and Specialised Training Institutions, held in Naivasha under the theme, “Collaborative Pathways to National Skills Development.”
The forum, which brought together leaders from government, financial institutions, and training colleges, focused on improving student funding mechanisms and addressing skills development in Kenya.
Dr. Oluoch actively participated in discussions aimed at enhancing access to funding for students, particularly those training in healthcare.
For years, KMTC has advocated for its students to be included in the HELB loan programme, enabling more individuals to afford medical training.
In April 2025, Dr. Oluoch formally presented this request to the Parliamentary Committees on Health and Education, urging that KMTC students receive the same financial support available to those studying at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
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At the Naivasha forum, participants discussed several key issues, including ways to increase access to student funding across various sectors, strengthen partnerships between HELB, the government, and training institutions, and align student funding with the nation’s workforce needs, particularly in the healthcare sector. Additionally, the forum focused on developing fair and sustainable funding models for middle-level colleges.
Dr. Oluoch reiterated the importance of student funding, asserting that it is crucial to ensuring more young people are able to pursue health professional training.
He expressed confidence that collaborative partnerships would help close the existing funding gaps and support Kenya’s growing healthcare workforce.
The forum’s discussions also come shortly after President Dr. William Ruto’s directive to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to ensure that KMTC students are included in the government’s funding schemes.
This follows the recent introduction of the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which aims to consolidate the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the TVET Fund, and the University Fund into a single entity to streamline student support.
By Obegi Malack
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