For KMTC graduates at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday, hope came with the voice of the Deputy President. Kithure Kindiki promised that students of the Kenya Medical Training College would soon have better access to funding through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), easing the financial burden for families across the country.
Addressing the graduating class, Kindiki said he would bring together officials from the Ministries of Health, Education, and the Treasury to design a fair and practical funding model for KMTC students.
“I will be convening relevant ministries next week to agree on a formula and ensure KMTC students can access proper support,” he said, acknowledging the struggles many students face in financing their studies.
Currently, KMTC students rely on schemes like the Afya Elimu Fund and the KMTC Students’ Financing Scheme, which mainly cover tuition fees paid directly to the institution.
University students, by contrast, enjoy a combination of non-repayable scholarships and upkeep loans for living expenses deposited into their bank accounts a disparity that the Deputy President says will be addressed.
“This inequity has affected many families who struggle to make ends meet while supporting their children’s education. It is time to ensure KMTC students have the same opportunities as their university peers,” Kindiki said.
He further pledged that the government would support graduates in finding jobs in their trained professions, giving reassurance that the nation’s investment in healthcare education would translate into meaningful employment.
For students and families at the ceremony, the promise offered more than financial relief it brought a sense of recognition, hope, and confidence that their sacrifices would soon be rewarded with both support and opportunity.