Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a stern warning against the proliferation of unregulated health-related courses across Kenya, while reiterating the government’s unwavering support for the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) as the nation’s flagship health training institution.

Speaking at the official opening of the 8th Biennial KMTC Scientific Conference held at the KMTC headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Duale declared that the Ministry of Health would take decisive steps to ensure that all health training institutions uphold quality and relevance in their programmes.

“KMTC will not offer credentials without competence,” Duale said.

 “We will not allow institutions to become part of the problem. All training programmes must be aligned to the evolving needs of public health in Kenya.”

This marked Duale’s first official visit to KMTC since his appointment to the health docket. The conference, themed ‘Advancing Equity in a Rapidly Changing Environment’, brought together key players from the health sector, academia, and research to exchange insights and innovations aimed at improving health training and service delivery.

The event underscored KMTC’s strategic role in supporting the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda. Duale called on stakeholders to place competence and ethical standards at the centre of training the country’s future health workforce.

“We must train professionals who are not only technically skilled but who understand their responsibility to serve communities with integrity,” he stated.

Sustandard health courses

The CS used the platform to caution against institutions offering substandard or misaligned health courses. While acknowledging the increasing demand for healthcare professionals, he insisted that expansion should be deliberate and quality-driven.

“We are not against expansion per se,” he said. “But it must be guided by need, relevance, and national health priorities.”

During a closed-door consultative meeting with KMTC’s Board and senior management, Duale emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, and regular curriculum reviews.

 He urged KMTC to remain a centre of excellence and a model for other institutions across the region.

“KMTC must continuously assess its programmes and ensure they are responsive to our population’s current and future health needs,” he remarked.

In a move to support student training and strengthen field-based learning, Duale flagged off five double-cabin vehicles to be dispatched to five KMTC campuses across the country.

The vehicles are expected to improve student mobility, enable closer supervision during clinical rotations, and boost the delivery of community-based health services.

KMTC Board Chairperson Joseah Cheruiyot, Chief Executive Officer Kelly Oluoch, and Director General for Health Patrick Amoth were present during the occasion.

They welcomed the Ministry’s commitment to elevating health training standards and pledged to continue aligning the institution’s strategic plan with national health goals.

Duale said that KMTC Scientific Conference remains one of Kenya’s premier platforms for healthcare dialogue and innovation as It plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration among health professionals, researchers, and policymakers.

Duale said as Kenya intensifies efforts to build a resilient health system, the Ministry of Health’s clear stance on quality assurance in medical education signals a decisive shift toward safeguarding the integrity of healthcare services in the country.

“We owe it to Kenyans to ensure that every health worker is properly trained, equipped, and motivated to serve,” he asserted.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s full support for the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), while issuing a strong caution against the unchecked expansion of health-related courses across the country.

Speaking during the official… pic.twitter.com/lFlgkjVgmY

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) June 4, 2025