KMTC Deepens Partnership With Amref to Advance Health Innovation and Incubation Centres
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Board of Directors has reaffirmed its support for a partnership between the College and Amref Health Africa to equip students and alumni with entrepreneurial skills to create jobs in the health sector.
The partnership, which has taken shape over recent months, focuses on training students in health entrepreneurship and establishing innovation and incubation centres to support the development and commercialisation of their ideas.
Speaking during a meeting held in Mombasa on Wednesday, January 14, 2025, Board Chairperson Mr. Joseah K. Cheruiyot said the initiative will help graduates create opportunities beyond traditional employment.
“Health training must prepare graduates for realities beyond conventional clinical roles. In today’s professional environment, success requires adaptability, innovation, and strong soft skills. Our students must graduate ready to respond to real health challenges in diverse settings,” he said.
The engagement with Amref Health Africa builds on an existing partnership under the Learning for Life programme, through which more than 80,000 KMTC students and alumni are receiving training in health entrepreneurship and soft skills.
The programme supports learners in identifying and developing opportunities in areas such as community health initiatives, wellness programmes, digital health solutions, and other health-related ventures.
CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch said entrepreneurship and soft skills are essential for graduates entering an increasingly competitive labour market.
“These skills are critical for improving employability and enabling our graduates to create opportunities for themselves and others,” he said.
Amref Health Africa’s Chief Innovation Officer, Ms. Carol Mbidyo, encouraged KMTC to establish innovation hubs across its 92 campuses, describing them as spaces where students can turn ideas into practical responses to healthcare challenges.
“These hubs can nurture problem solvers who respond to real community needs,” she said.
To strengthen implementation, the programme has already trained 200 faculty members in Nairobi and Nakuru to serve as trainers and mentors, with the content also available on the College’s eLearning platform to reach alumni.
The proposed incubation centres will provide structured support for student ideas through mentorship, testing spaces, and guidance to help innovations grow into sustainable solutions, building on the entrepreneurship training already underway.
On the sidelines, the Board and Management will consider governance documents, including the College’s Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Environmental, Social, and Governance policies, as well as human resource governance instruments, to strengthen ethical leadership, community engagement, and sustainable institutional growth. They will also hold discussions with Campus Principals, who are in a retreat aimed at charting a path to the College’s sustainability.
