KMTC students biggest beneficiaries of the Afya Elimu Fund (AEF)

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is the biggest beneficiary of the Afya Elimu Fund (AEF), receiving 80 percent of the annual allocation, which has benefitted over 28,000 students, KMTC CEO Prof. Michael Kiptoo has said.

The CEO was speaking on May 19th, 2021 during a breakfast meeting organized by IntraHealth at Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi.

The meeting themed ‘Celebration of AEF success stories and a call to action for new partners towards sustainable, resilient, and inclusive AEF’ sought to take stock of the successes achieved by the fund as it transitions fully to the Higher Educations Loans Board (HELB).

As of December 31st, 2020, AEF had supported 35,895 students to a tune of USD 25.8 million, with HELB contributing 79.5 percent and USAID contributing 18.32 percent.

Out of the total AEF beneficiaries, 11,878 students have graduated, and 3,983 are employed and available to support the provision of health services, including HIV prevention, care, treatment, and reproductive, maternal, neonatal child, as well as adolescent health.

Prof. Kiptoo later joined a panel discussion on resource mobilization and sustainability of AEF following the winding up of USAID’s funding and reduction of the Government capitation fund.

He gave an assurance noting that, “KMTC will continue to redouble its efforts in resource mobilization to meet the growing demand of College fees.”

The event was presided over by the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Health Services Dr. Kigen Bartilol who commended the fund as being key in ensuring all Kenyans get access to quality healthcare.

“I implore all partners to come on board and support the fund,” he said.

Deputy Mission Director, USAID Kenya and East Africa, Ms. Heather Schildge lauded the fund, noting, “The beneficiaries will contribute to the national growth through saving and improving quality of life for Kenyans, improving their own lives, and those of their families.”

The benefits are multi-fold, and this is what USAID is all about.

Also present were HELB CEO Mr. Charles Ringera, Johnson & Johnson, Director Global Community Impact for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Anthony Gitau, Intrahealth International, Country Director Dr. Janet Muriuki, and CEO KCB Foundation Ms. Caroline Kihara.

The Afya Elimu Fund was introduced in 2013 in a bid to support students in medical training institutions obtain loans that will support them in completing their respective training in various health courses.

Mr. Boniface Momanyi, a KMTC alumna and beneficiary of the fund, thanked the College for availing the resources, noting it is through the fund that he was able to complete his training.

“AEF took a huge burden off my shoulders, alleviated my fee-related stress, enabling me to concentrate on my studies,” he said. Currently working as a Nurse in Kirinyaga County, Mr. Momanyi graduated in 2018 with a Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing.