By Ben Okweingoti.
Malindi Town in Kilifi County is set to enhance healthcare training and service delivery following the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), ending years of delays caused by a protracted land dispute.
The project was officially launched by Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi alongside Kenya Medical Training College Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nyawera Mwangi, Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule, County Executive Committee Member for Health Peter Mwarogo, and Shella Ward Member of County Assembly Abdulkarim during a ceremony held on a 10-acre parcel of land excised from Malindi High School.
Speaking at the event, Mnyazi said the establishment of the institution was a major milestone for the rapidly expanding coastal town, whose growing population requires improved healthcare services and a larger pool of trained medical professionals.
She criticized leaders who had opposed the project in the past, accusing them of politicizing an initiative aimed at addressing the region's healthcare needs.
“The dream of having a KMTC campus in Malindi has finally been realized. Those who turned this important project into a political issue should be ashamed. Our hospitals serve a large number of patients and require more healthcare providers. This institution will train graduates who will help bridge that gap,” she said.
Malindi is served by major public health facilities, including Malindi Sub-County Hospital and Muyeye Mother and Child Hospital, which also receive referrals from neighboring Tana River and Lamu counties, placing significant pressure on existing healthcare personnel.
Dr. Mwangi welcomed the development, noting that KMTC would facilitate student enrollment once the institution meets all the requirements for a medical training facility. She commended local leaders for allocating adequate land for the project.
“This college will not only train healthcare professionals but will also stimulate economic growth in the area. It will create employment opportunities and boost business activities within the town,” she said.
Shella MCA Abdulkarim echoed her sentiments, urging local residents to seize the economic opportunities that will arise from the construction and operation of the college by investing in income-generating ventures.
Malindi Senior Assistant County Commissioner Brian Kirui said the construction phase would prioritize local youth for employment, helping to address unemployment and reduce crime levels in the area.
Once completed, the KMTC campus is expected to strengthen healthcare training in Kilifi County and contribute significantly to improving medical service delivery across the wider Coast region.
