The 8th Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Scientific Conference opened today at the KMTC Nursing Assembly in Nairobi, drawing a diverse audience of health professionals, policymakers, scholars, and students. Centered on the theme “Advancing Health Equity in a Rapidly Changing Environment,” the three-day event underscores KMTC’s pivotal role in strengthening healthcare systems in Kenya and beyond.
The conference was officially inaugurated by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, who praised KMTC for producing more than 85% of the country’s mid-level healthcare workforce. Calling the institution “the engine room of Kenya’s frontline healthcare,” Duale highlighted KMTC’s instrumental contribution to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), including the training of over 107,000 Community Health Promoters deployed across all 47 counties.
“KMTC is not just along for the ride—it is steering the wheel,” the CS declared, aligning the College’s mission with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Yet, Duale did not shy away from the challenges facing the institution—chief among them, student financing. He announced that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Treasury, is working to unlock Ksh 500 million through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to support KMTC students. He also revealed ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education to ensure KMTC learners receive the same financing access as their peers in universities and TVET institutions.
In a firm warning to the wider education sector, Duale decried the rise of unregulated, substandard health-related programs offered by some institutions.
“KMTC will not be part of this problem. We will not offer credentials without competence,” he stressed, advocating for rigorous curriculum standards, closely supervised clinical placements, and outcome-based training.
KMTC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kelly Oluoch reinforced the call for quality and innovation, both in training and research. He noted the College’s increasing global recognition, with this year’s conference featuring 36 staff research papers, 11 poster presentations, and, for the first time, student presenters from six countries: Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Hungary, Canada, and the USA.
“This marks KMTC’s growing credibility in global research circles,” said Dr. Oluoch, emphasizing the need to link research findings to actionable policy and practice.
He also unveiled KMTC’s new Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy, which will shape its research agenda going forward.
“Research sharpens critical thinking and cultivates lifelong problem-solvers,” he added, urging students and faculty to embrace research as both a professional and patriotic duty.
The conference continues through June 6, with sessions expected to explore digital innovation in health, community-based care, and climate-resilient health systems—critical themes in advancing health equity in a dynamic global landscape.
