Thousands of students enrolled at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) will soon be eligible for funding through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) following a government policy change aimed at expanding access to financial support for learners pursuing medical training.
The move fulfills a commitment made by President William Ruto earlier this year after students raised concerns over their exclusion from government-sponsored higher education financing programs.
Ruto’s Promise Becomes Reality
The breakthrough traces back to President Ruto’s development tour of Kisii County in April, where students at the KMTC Gucha Campus appealed for equal treatment under government funding programs.
The students argued that KMTC learners faced the same financial challenges as their counterparts in universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and other tertiary colleges, yet remained excluded from HELB support.
In response, President Ruto directed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to ensure KMTC students were incorporated into the national student financing framework.
Speaking during the signing of the Finance Bill 2026 at State House, the President confirmed that the directive had been implemented.
“KMTC students are now eligible to apply for HELB funding. This was not the case in the past, but we have now addressed the issue to ensure they receive the support they deserve,” Ruto said.
Expanded Access to Medical Education
The inclusion of KMTC students is expected to significantly reduce financial barriers facing learners pursuing medical and healthcare-related courses.
For years, KMTC students relied largely on limited revolving funds and personal financing to cover tuition and accommodation costs. Education stakeholders have long argued that excluding medical trainees from mainstream student funding undermined efforts to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare workforce.
Government officials say the new arrangement will help increase access to medical education while supporting the country’s broader healthcare development goals.
How Students Will Apply
According to government guidelines, eligible KMTC students will apply through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal once HELB officially opens the application window.
First-time applicants will be required to create accounts using their national identification details and personal contact information.
Students will also need to provide:
- National ID details
- KCSE and KCPE index numbers
- Passport-size photograph
- Parent or guardian information
- Details of two guarantors
- Personal bank account or registered M-Pesa account
Applicants will then complete their personal, educational and family profiles before submitting the required supporting documents electronically.
Upon successful submission, students will receive a confirmation serial number for tracking purposes.
Part of Wider Higher Education Reforms
The announcement comes amid ongoing reforms in Kenya’s higher education financing sector.
Parliament is currently considering the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which seeks to streamline student financing by bringing several agencies under a unified framework.
The proposed legislation aims to merge functions currently handled by HELB, the TVET Fund, the Universities Fund and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Government officials argue that the reforms will improve efficiency, reduce duplication and ensure equitable access to education financing across all tertiary institutions.
Record Funding Allocation
The policy shift coincides with a significant increase in government funding for student loans.
The National Treasury has allocated KSh58 billion for student financing during the 2026/2027 financial year, up from KSh41 billion in the previous fiscal period.
The increased allocation is intended to support learners under the Student-Centred Funding Model while easing the financial burden on families across the country.
Education experts say the inclusion of KMTC students marks one of the most significant expansions of Kenya’s higher education financing program in recent years.
What It Means for Students
For thousands of aspiring healthcare professionals, access to HELB funding could mean fewer financial interruptions, improved retention rates and greater opportunities to complete their studies.
The move is also expected to strengthen Kenya’s health sector by enabling more students to pursue careers in nursing, clinical medicine, laboratory sciences and other critical healthcare disciplines.
With application guidelines expected to be released in the coming weeks, KMTC students across the country are now preparing to join the same financing framework that has supported university and TVET learners for decades.
