KMTC Students to Access HELB Loans as Government Moves to Expand Education Funding
Thousands of students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) are set to benefit from government-backed financial support after President William Ruto confirmed that the institution’s learners will be incorporated into the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funding programme.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 24, KMTC welcomed the development, describing it as a major milestone that will ease the financial burden facing many students pursuing medical and healthcare-related courses across the country.
The announcement follows assurances made by President William Ruto during an address at State House on June 23, where he revealed that KMTC students would now be eligible for funding under the government’s Higher Education Financing framework.
“KMTC students are now eligible to apply for HELB funding,” the President said, adding that students enrolled at the institution deserve equal access to government financial support just like their counterparts in universities and other institutions of higher learning.
According to KMTC, applications for the loans will commence once HELB formally releases the funds and opens its application portal for eligible students.
The latest development provides clarity on a commitment President Ruto first made in April when he directed the Ministry of Education to facilitate the inclusion of KMTC students in the country’s revised tertiary education financing model.
At the time, the Head of State instructed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to ensure medical trainees at KMTC would begin benefiting from government support starting in the next academic semester.
The move is expected to bring relief to thousands of students who have long struggled to finance their studies due to limited access to structured government loan facilities.
For years, KMTC students have primarily depended on a revolving fund arrangement and personal financing, unlike university students who have traditionally benefited from HELB loans and scholarships. The lack of access to mainstream government funding has often been cited as one of the key challenges facing trainees in the health sector.
KMTC noted that the government’s decision is aimed at promoting equal opportunities in education while strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce by supporting students pursuing medical training.
President Ruto further reiterated his administration’s commitment to increasing investment in education and expanding access to financial aid programmes for learners in higher education and technical training institutions.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the decision, arguing that it will help reduce dropout rates and ensure more students successfully complete their training in critical healthcare fields.
Founded in 1927, KMTC remains Kenya’s largest institution for training healthcare professionals. The college operates more than 70 campuses across the country and plays a crucial role in producing nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, pharmacists and other healthcare workers who form a significant portion of Kenya’s health workforce.
With the inclusion of KMTC students in the HELB programme, medical trainees are expected to enjoy funding opportunities similar to those available to university students, marking a significant shift in government support for healthcare education in Kenya.
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