Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has outlined a renewed government drive to expand Kenya’s health workforce and improve service delivery, citing new funding commitments and ongoing reforms in the universal health coverage agenda.
Speaking during the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) graduation ceremony at Kasarani, Kindiki said the government is scaling up investments to match the rising demand for trained health personnel countrywide.
According to the Deputy President’s statement shared on social media, more than 28 million Kenyans are now enrolled under the Taifa Care health scheme.
This marks a significant rise from the 7.5 million previously registered under the former National Hospital Insurance Fund, reflecting the administration’s shift toward a broader model of public health inclusion.
Kindiki noted that the rollout of Universal Health Coverage remains a top priority within the Kenya Kwanza government’s social and economic agenda.
He said the state has concentrated efforts on supplying hospitals with updated diagnostic equipment, improving treatment capacity, and ensuring medical commodities reach facilities on time.
These steps mirror long-standing calls from county governments for stronger national support in health financing and logistics.
In his statement, Kindiki highlighted that the 2025/2026 financial year budget allocates KSh 9.7 billion to KMTC.
The funds will support staff recruitment, upgrade training infrastructure, and enhance laboratory and classroom equipment.
With KMTC responsible for training over 80 percent of Kenya’s mid-level health professionals, the institution’s role has grown more prominent as counties continue to face shortages of nurses, clinical officers, and other essential cadres.
The Deputy President added that the government plans to operationalise 18 new KMTC campuses at a cost of KSh 1 billion.
This expansion is intended to absorb increasing numbers of applicants seeking medical courses. The move aligns with previous national efforts to decentralise training institutions and distribute skilled workers more evenly across regions.
Kindiki also announced that the government is considering extending Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) financial support to KMTC students.
He said this would help sustain a competent and ethical workforce capable of delivering healthcare in both rural and urban settings. Under the Affordable and Institutional Housing Programme, modern hostels are being built in 54 KMTC campuses to improve student welfare.
During the ceremony, KMTC graduated 22,776 students from various medical disciplines. Kindiki urged the cohort to prioritise integrity and professionalism as they join a sector still grappling with staffing gaps, especially in remote counties.
The Deputy President reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza administration views investment in human resources for health as central to strengthening the country’s overall healthcare system