Why MPs want KMTC slots for local communities

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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.

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.

“In many instances, deserving students from the host constituencies are unable to secure admission to the facilities that were established primarily to address the educational needs of the local population. This has led to dissatisfaction among residents who expect that such investments should translate into increased educational opportunities for their children,” he added.

Currently, admission to KMTC is done through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

According to the constitution, admission to public institutions must adhere to the constitutional principles of equity, inclusivity and merit.

Chairman of the National Assembly Education Committee Julius Melly said they will take up the matter with the Ministry of Education if there can be development of a framework where the local community gets a quota based on the admission guidelines set by KUCCPS.

“This is a matter that we will take up with the ministry, especially now that it’s time for admissions,” Mr Melly said.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula directed the committee in its engagement with the ministry to find a way in which children from the local area.

“The question here is, do you have a way of giving quotas to constituencies or counties that have sacrificed their resources to build institutions to accommodate children from within the area subject to the standard set on admission qualifications, numbers of the college, and so on? Asked speaker Wetang’ula.

The lawmakers argue that while setting up the KMTCs using the CDF funds, there was a legitimate expectation that an appropriate framework would be established to secure quotas for the students from the host constituencies, without undermining the national admission standards.

Such a framework, according to MPs, would ensure that communities that have sacrificed resources and land for the establishment of these institutions derive tangible benefits derived from bringing educational opportunity closer to the people.

According to a report before the National Government Constituency Development Fund committee, 61 KMTC campuses across the country have been established with NG-CDF support. Of these, 34 are operational, eight are under construction, and 19 are not yet operational.

The report indicates that the campuses have so far provided employment to approximately 347 academic staff and 277 non-academic staff.

The report also indicates that 57 campuses (93.4 per cent) are located near Level 4 or Level 5 hospitals, which offer advanced medical services. Four campuses (6.6 per cent) lack access to such facilities. Kieni KMTC Campus is the most affected, located about 32 kilometres from the nearest Level 4 or Level 5 hospital.

The committee chairman, Musa Sirma, said setting up KMTC is a rigorous process as various approvals are required before work can begin.

“It is a tedious exercise. We went through the KMTC vetting process where they ascertain the availability of infrastructure, including signing an MoU with the County Government, where they agreed to provide lecturers. The Board even met with the donors who gave in to build extra facilities in the KMTC. Before getting approval to start construction, all due diligence must be done and you must meet all the requirements,” Mr Sirma said during a recent meeting with the NG-CDF board.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.