The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has begun the digitalization of its Higher National Diploma Nursing and Clinical Medicine Mental Health curriculum, marking a major step in enhancing the training of mental health professionals in Kenya.
The initiative is supported by a one-year grant awarded by Johnson & Johnson through Aga Khan University and Amref Health Africa in Kenya, part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s health workforce.
Scholarships for Kenyan nurses and midwives
At the same time, the Ministry of Health, working with The Higher Education Loans Board, Johnson & Johnson, Amref Health Africa, and the Nurses and Midwives Alliance, will provide scholarships for 110 nurses and midwives starting advanced nursing courses in September 2025.
The package includes study loans of up to Ksh 500,000 at a subsidized interest rate of four percent.
According to Ms. Florence Maina, Principal of KMTC Mathari Campus, digitalization will allow the program to be rolled out across more Campuses.
She explained that a Simulation Laboratory is being established at Mathari to strengthen hands-on learning, supported by a digitized psychiatric curriculum and targeted faculty training in virtual simulation and e-learning delivery.
“We are banking on a blended learning approach to cater to practitioners who have limited time and resources for full-time study. This way, they can continue serving in hospitals while sparing time to train with us,” said Ms. Maina.
The Simulation Lab will mimic real clinical environments, allowing students to follow live sessions remotely. Learners will practice outpatient and inpatient case scenarios, history taking, and clinical examinations as if they were in actual hospital settings.
How many nurses will KMTC train under ToT model?
Under the program, KMTC will also train 630 nurses and 200 clinical officers from Level 2 and 3 facilities in Nakuru and Kisumu counties through a structured Training-of-Trainers (TOT) model.
The rollout of the program began with a five-day workshop at KMTC Nakuru Campus from September 1 to 5, 2025.
The Deputy Director, Finance Planning and Administration, Ms. Lucy Chebungei, who spoke on behalf of the CEO, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, described the project as a turning point for the College, noting that the curriculum will provide students with access to world-class digital tools.
“We are shaping professionals who can deliver quality mental health services anywhere in the world,” she said.
How many people live with mental disorder?
The World Health Organization reports that one in eight people globally lives with a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety costing the global economy an estimated US $1 trillion annually.
In Kenya, up to 25 percent of outpatients and 40 percent of inpatients experience mental health conditions, yet the country has fewer than 500 psychiatrists to serve over 50 million people.
The College is taking a leading role in bridging this gap, equipping its graduates with the skills and tools needed to respond to Kenya’s and the world’s rising mental health needs.
