Ruto Orders HELB Loans for KMTC Students Starting Next Semester

President William Ruto joins students for a dance during the commissioning of the Affordable Housing Project at KMTC Nyamache Campus.

Students across all Kenya Medical Training College campuses are set to benefit from expanded education funding under proposed reforms aimed at consolidating tertiary education financing funds into a single entity.

The shift follows the tabling of the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill in Parliament, which seeks to merge the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb), the Tvet Fund and the University Fund into a single entity to streamline support for learners across institutions.

The push to include KMTC students in the funding framework was underscored on Tuesday when President William Ruto directed the Education Cabinet Secretary to ensure the college is factored into the new system.

“As you work around the Bill, ensure KMTC students receive an allocation for the next semester,” he said during the commissioning of an Affordable Housing Project at KMTC’s Nyamache campus in Kisii county.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that the Bill is currently before Parliament and proposes funding support for all tertiary learners, including those enrolled at KMTC, effectively addressing long-standing gaps in student financing for middle-level colleges.

Beyond funding, the government signalled plans to strengthen the institution’s capacity, with additional resources earmarked for staff recruitment to match rising enrolment.

The President commissioned a student housing project that will accommodate 340 learners, a move expected to ease pressure on accommodation and improve welfare at the campus.

The reforms come at a time when access to KMTC programmes has widened following a policy shift in student placement.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) started placing students to KMTC for the 2025–26 academic year, with the first application window opening in January 2025 for the March 2026 intake.

Previously, students used to apply for admission directly to KMTC.

The integration onto the placement service platform allows Form Four leavers from 2000 to 2025 to apply for KMTC diploma and certificate courses through the KUCCPS portal alongside university and Tvet programmes.

On March 3, KUCCPS reopened the portal for the March intake, setting a March 13 deadline, before reopening again on March 29 to allow course revisions and fresh applications for 21 programmes that remained undersubscribed.

KMTC remains the country’s leading institution for training middle-level health professionals, attracting applicants from across Kenya and beyond.

Through its extensive network of campuses, the college offers accessible, practical and market-responsive training designed to prepare graduates for service in both local and global healthcare systems.

Prospective students can apply for a wide range of programmes aimed at building technical competence and hands-on experience critical to strengthening healthcare delivery.