The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has introduced three specialised healthcare programmes as Kenya moves to address emerging skills gaps and strengthen its health workforce.
The new programmes include a Diploma in Speech Therapy, Higher Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy, and Higher Diploma in Audiology.
KMTC Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelly Oluoch announced the expansion during the Kenya Health Summit 2026 held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on August 18 and 19.
The announcement came during a Presidential Listening Session, where President William Ruto highlighted the need for KMTC to introduce specialised training programmes that respond to Kenya's changing healthcare needs.
KMTC said the new courses are part of its wider strategy to ensure the country has enough skilled professionals to address emerging healthcare demands.
The new programmes expand career opportunities for aspiring health workers while strengthening Kenya’s capacity to provide specialised healthcare services nationwide.
KMTC Introduces Three New Specialised Courses
The new programmes target areas where specialised healthcare professionals are increasingly required.
The courses are:
- Diploma in Speech Therapy
- Higher Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
- Higher Diploma in Audiology
Speech therapy focuses on supporting people experiencing difficulties with speech, communication and related functions.
Speech and language therapy provides more advanced professional training for specialists working with people experiencing communication and language challenges.
Audiology focuses on hearing and balance-related conditions, including assessment and rehabilitation.
The introduction of the three programmes is expected to expand opportunities for students seeking specialised careers within Kenya's healthcare system.
Courses Target Emerging Skills Gaps
KMTC said the expansion is driven by changing healthcare needs and the growing demand for specialised professionals.
Dr Oluoch said the college has a responsibility to ensure that healthcare training evolves alongside the country's health system.
“KMTC trains about 85 per cent of Kenya's middle-level health workforce. As the health system changes, our responsibility is to ensure that the workforce changes with it,” Oluoch said.
The statement highlights KMTC's role in producing a large proportion of the country's middle-level healthcare professionals.
By introducing specialised programmes, the institution aims to ensure graduates are equipped to work in areas where demand for healthcare services is growing.
Kenya Faces Shortages in Specialised Healthcare
The new courses come as Kenya continues to face shortages of skilled health workers in several areas.
KMTC said the need for additional specialised personnel is also evident in maternal and newborn healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.
Shortages of healthcare professionals can affect the availability, quality and timeliness of services, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas.
The college is therefore expanding training as part of efforts to increase the number of professionals available to support healthcare delivery.
KMTC Trains Nurses for Underserved Areas
KMTC has also expanded its contribution to community and primary healthcare.
The college has trained 429 Enrolled Community Health Nurses through support from UNHCR and Beyond Zero.
The nurses are expected to strengthen maternal, newborn and child healthcare services, particularly in arid, semi-arid and underserved areas.
The initiative demonstrates the growing emphasis on developing a healthcare workforce capable of serving communities outside major urban centres.
KMTC Targets 25,000 Graduates in 2026
The expansion of specialised courses comes as KMTC increases the number of healthcare professionals it trains.
The college expects to graduate approximately 25,000 health professionals in 2026.
That would represent a significant increase from the approximately 15,000 graduates projected in 2022.
The growth reflects government efforts to expand healthcare training and increase the supply of skilled personnel entering the health sector.
However, the increase in graduates also raises the importance of ensuring that the healthcare system creates sufficient opportunities for trained professionals to apply their skills.
New Courses Build on Earlier Expansion
The three programmes are part of a broader expansion of KMTC's training portfolio.
Earlier this year, the college introduced Primary Health Care (PHC) courses across all its faculties.
The move was designed to strengthen training in primary healthcare as Kenya continues implementing reforms aimed at shifting healthcare services towards prevention and community-based care.
The latest programmes add specialised competencies to KMTC's growing range of courses.
The college currently offers more than 126 courses, alongside several short professional training programmes.
Training Must Match Healthcare Needs
The expansion reflects a growing recognition that Kenya's healthcare workforce cannot rely solely on traditional training programmes.
Changes in disease patterns, technology, population needs and healthcare delivery models require professionals with increasingly specialised skills.
Training in speech therapy and audiology, for example, can help expand access to services that may previously have been concentrated among a relatively small number of specialists.
For students, the programmes also create additional pathways into healthcare professions beyond conventional nursing, clinical medicine and other widely known courses.
KMTC Plays Key Role in Health Workforce
Founded in 1927, KMTC is Kenya's largest institution for training healthcare professionals and operates under the Ministry of Health.
Its role has become increasingly important as the government seeks to expand access to healthcare and strengthen the country's health workforce.
With KMTC training about 85 per cent of Kenya's middle-level health workforce, decisions made by the institution have a direct impact on the availability of healthcare professionals across the country.
The introduction of specialised courses therefore represents more than an expansion of academic programmes.
It is also an attempt to align healthcare training with the skills Kenya expects to need in the coming years.
Healthcare Training Enters New Phase
The introduction of the three specialised programmes signals KMTC's continued shift towards training professionals for both existing and emerging healthcare needs.
The Diploma in Speech Therapy, Higher Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy and Higher Diploma in Audiology will broaden the institution's training portfolio while creating new opportunities for aspiring healthcare workers.
As Kenya expands its healthcare system, the challenge will be ensuring that increased training translates into improved access to services.
For now, KMTC is betting on a simple approach: train more professionals, introduce specialised skills and align healthcare education with the country's changing needs.
