Kirinyaga Breaks Ground for First KMTC Campus in Major Boost to Healthcare Training
Waiguru also reiterated her administration’s commitment to the development of healthcare infrastructure and investment in human resource development.
Governor Anne Waiguru, who presided over the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari, senior county officials, and local residents. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Kirinyaga County marked a major milestone in healthcare development after launching the construction of its first-ever Kenya Medical Training College campus. The project, set on a two-acre parcel of land next to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital, is expected to significantly expand opportunities for medical education while helping address the shortage of skilled health workers in the region.
It was presided over by Governor Anne Waiguru, who was accompanied by Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari, senior county officials, health sector stakeholders, and residents from the surrounding community. Waiguru termed the initiative a transformative and long-overdue investment which would make healthcare training more accessible and affordable to local students, especially those hailing from rural and low-income families who struggle to meet the cost of studying far from home.
The governor observed that the establishment of a KMTC campus within the county was in line with Kirinyaga’s long-term vision of becoming a regional hub of healthcare excellence. She explained that the institution will play a critical role in the production of competent health professionals who will serve in local hospitals and health centres, thereby improving service delivery and reducing staffing gaps.
Under the first phase of the project, the county is putting up a state-of-the-art two-storey academic block that is suitably equipped to meet international standards for training. It shall be constituted with spacious lecture halls, fully equipped medical and ICT laboratories, a resource-rich library, and specialized skills rooms designed to enable practical learning in a hands-on environment. The initial facilities will comfortably accommodate at least 200 students, while provision for expansion will be considered depending on demand.
The proximity of the campus to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital will provide students with constant access to hands-on clinical exposure, a very critical need in the competence-based medical training. This will hopefully offer a smooth connection between classroom learning and medical field practice, translating into the production of graduates who will be well prepared to join the healthcare workforce.
Residents welcomed the project, saying that it would not only provide local learners with better access to training but also stimulate economic activities around the town. Increased enrolment and staff presence are expected to support businesses such as housing, retail, and transport. Waiguru also reiterated her administration’s commitment to the development of healthcare infrastructure and investment in human resource development. The governor termed the new KMTC campus a historic development that will shape the county’s healthcare system for generations, positioning Kirinyaga as an emerging centre for medical training and service excellence.
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