Revealed: The Most Popular Courses at KMTC

Revealed: The Most Popular Courses at KMTC

For the fifth consecutive year, Nursing has recorded the highest enrollment figures at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), as stated in the 2025 Kenya Economic Survey report.

According to the report, out of the 29,326 middle-level medical trainees enrolled last year, diploma nursing students made up the largest group. Specifically, in the 2023/24 academic year, there are 4,825 students enrolled in diploma Community Health Nursing.

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 (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 increased 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 number of trainees, with only 702 students across various specializations, including pharmacy, nursing, medical engineering, and clinical medicine and surgery.

High enrollment in a course does not necessarily indicate its popularity, as enrollment figures often reflect the number of available training slots or national workforce demands. To accurately assess popularity based on student preference, data on the most competitive courses and those with the highest demand for limited slots would be needed.

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 COs, 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, approximately 56,516 Kenyans applied for various diploma courses at KMTC, but only about 19,000 were admitted, leaving 36,863 applicants, or 65 percent, without placement.

“Regarding the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), 56,516 individuals applied, and 19,653 were placed according to available slots,” said 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 available capacity.

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

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

In December 2023, KMTC graduated 22,695 students, the highest number in the college’s 96-year history. “A total of 870 were awarded higher diplomas, 12,917 received diplomas, and 8,908 earned 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 in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” Oluoch remarked.