20,000 KMTC Students Fail to Take Up Admission Slots Over Lack of Government Funding

Thousands of students seeking medical training in Kenya are missing out on college opportunities because they cannot afford the fees, the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has told Members of Parliament.

KMTC Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelly Oluoch raised the concern on November 5, 2026, while appearing before the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Committee.

Oluoch told MPs that approximately 20,000 students placed through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) fail to report to KMTC every admission cycle after discovering that they cannot access government loans or scholarships.

He said the college currently has 89,586 students, many of whom face financial difficulties because KMTC operates under the Ministry of Health rather than the Ministry of Education.

This administrative arrangement has created challenges for students seeking financial assistance through the existing higher education funding system.

The KMTC chief executive argued that students pursuing medical training should receive fair access to government support, regardless of the ministry responsible for their institution.

The college trains more than 85 per cent of Kenya's healthcare workforce, making the issue important beyond education.

When students fail to take up admission opportunities, the country risks losing potential nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals.

Members of the parliamentary committee also raised concerns about the number of admission spaces left unused.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo proposed that KUCCPS clearly inform applicants about the funding arrangements before they select KMTC courses. This would help students make informed decisions.

Committee chairman Musa Sirma supported the call for government financing, questioning why KMTC trainees should remain outside the wider higher education funding system.

The college is now asking Parliament to help establish a funding arrangement that allows its students to access affordable education loans.