Why MPs want KMTC slots for local communities

Members of Parliament are pushing for several places at the 61 Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs), which were built with funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), to be ring-fenced.

While insisting that KMTC admissions should be open to students from across the country, lawmakers pointed out that it would only be fair to reserve a specific number of places for students from the constituency in which the college is located.

They argued that it is unfair for students willing to pursue a career in nursing to fail to secure a place at a KMTC in their locality when there is one.

Keiyo North MP Adams Korir raised the matter, pointing out that MPs have recently invested substantial NG-CDF resources in constructing and developing satellite KMTC campuses and training facilities for other higher education institutions, intending to expand access to educational and skills development opportunities for local communities.

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Mr Korir stated that these investments, particularly in KMTCs, have significantly improved educational infrastructure and advanced the government's agenda of promoting equitable access to quality education.

Despite these investments, Mr Korir said that students from local communities have failed to gain admission to these colleges.

“There are growing concerns that the local communities do not have any meaningful stake in the admission of students to KMTC institutions established under NG-CDF within their locality,” Mr Korir said.