Unveiled: The Most Popular Courses at KMTC

Unveiled: The Most Popular Courses at KMTC

Students attending classes at one of the campuses. At the certificate level, Orthopaedic Plaster Technology has the highest enrolment. For the fifth consecutive year, Nursing has recorded the largest number of enrolments at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), as stated in the 2025 Kenya Economic Survey report.

The report indicates that among the 29,326 middle-level medical trainees enrolled last year, diploma nursing students represented the largest single group. Specifically, in the 2023/24 academic year, there are 4,825 students in the diploma Community Health Nursing program.

The second most enrolled diploma course is Clinical Medicine & Surgery, with 2,567 students, followed by Health Records and Information Technology (2,016), Community Health (1,832), and Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine with 1,615 students.

At the certificate level, Orthopaedic Plaster Technology leads with 1,696 students, followed by Community Health Assistant (1,645), Health Records & Information Technology (1,623), Emergency Medical Technician (1,539), and Community Nursing (1,409).

“The total number of middle-level medical trainees rose from 26,830 in the 2020/21 academic year to 29,326 in the 2023/24 academic year,” the Economic Survey notes. This report was released in Nairobi on May 6 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

However, higher diploma courses represent the smallest portion of trainees, with only 702 students across various specializations, including pharmacy, nursing, medical engineering, and clinical medicine and surgery.

High enrolment in a course does not necessarily indicate its popularity, as these numbers often reflect the availability of training slots or the needs of the national workforce. To accurately assess popularity based on student preference, data on the most competitive courses, where demand exceeds supply, would be required.

According to the survey, Kenya has a total of 64,449 registered nurses, including 7,874 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 49,871 with diplomas, and 6,704 with certificates. For clinical officers, there are 30,800, comprising 28,712 diploma holders and 2,154 degree holders.

KMTC is the most sought-after mid-level medical training institution in Kenya. In 2024, 56,516 Kenyans applied for various diploma courses at KMTC, but only about 19,000 were admitted, resulting in 36,863 applicants, or 65%, being turned away.

“Regarding the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), 56,516 individuals applied, and 19,653 were placed according to available slots,” stated former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu during the 2024 Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) stakeholder forum in Nairobi last May.

KUCCPS noted that the number of qualified applicants for KMTC programs significantly exceeded the institution’s capacity.

Despite the strong enrolment trends, the number of graduates declined in the most recent academic year. The Economic Survey report reveals that “In the 2023/24 academic year, the number of middle-level medical graduates fell by 6.8 percent to 21,147.”

In December 2024, KMTC graduated approximately 21,147 students. Female students continued to outnumber males, making up 67.2 percent of the total graduates. Diploma holders constituted the majority at 53.7 percent, while certificate holders accounted for 43.9 percent and higher diploma holders just 2.4 percent.

In December 2023, KMTC celebrated its highest graduation number in its 96-year history, with 22,695 students graduating. “A total of 870 were awarded higher diplomas, 12,917 diplomas, and 8,908 certificates,” said college CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch during the ceremony held at the Moi International Sports Stadium in Kasarani.

“These graduates, having undergone comprehensive training, are exceptionally equipped to drive advancements aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” Oluoch remarked.