Waiguru breaks ground for first KMTC in Kirinyaga to boost healthcare sector

The new institution, to be built on a two-acre parcel next to the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital, is expected to widen training opportunities for local youth and support economic activity around Kerugoya town.

Construction begins immediately, with a two-storey academic block scheduled for completion within a year. The facility will include lecture halls, a library, administrative offices, and specialised laboratories, and will admit about 200 students in its initial phase.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the project reflects ongoing collaboration between the county and national governments. She added that the campus aligns with her administration’s plan to expand health services and position Kerugoya as a medical training and service hub.

The county’s existing facilities, Kerugoya Level Five Hospital and upgraded Level Four hospitals in Kianyaga, Kimbimbi, and Sagana, currently host over 150 trainee health workers from various institutions nationwide, a trend expected to grow once the KMTC campus becomes operational.

Local leaders present at the groundbreaking described the institution as long overdue for the county. Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari noted that providing land unlocked the project, urging the county to consider additional space for potential student hostels.

County Assembly Speaker Murimi Mutemi said the development fills a gap that residents have waited for since independence.

Residents who attended the event pointed to improvements in the county’s health facilities and expressed hope that the KMTC campus will help address staffing gaps in public hospitals. Community health promoters also welcomed the project, saying it would complement ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare across the county.

The construction phase is expected to create jobs and increase demand for housing, transport, and other local services, with longer-term economic growth anticipated once the campus opens.