KMTC Principals and senior managers are undergoing training on leadership and management, described by KMTC Director Dr Olang'o Onudi as "critical to the improved performance of the College."

The five-year program, which is offered by Management Science for Health, a US-based organization with funding from United States Agency for International Development, aims at building the capacity of KMTC staff in leadership and management and improve the College's performance.

As part of the programme, participants attend trainings and are also coached through group tasks, which are designed to improve performance in their areas.

Two training workshops each for principals and senior managers have already been held. The managers' projects are at advanced stages, and they are likely to graduate with diploma in leadership and management soon.

Participants have lauded the course, which they say is improving their relationship with their colleagues at work and improving performance: "Cohesiveness among staff, who are now working together for the College's common good and improved management of projects are two key immediate benefits of the project," Nakuru MTC Principal Mr. Peter Tum has said.

The programme also aims at developing and reviewing the curriculum to integrate leadership and management in the KMTC's pre-service and in-service programmes.

A centre for leadership and management for the health sector will also be established at KMTC as part of the programme. Karen Caldwell, Project Director of Leadership Management Sustainability-Kenya opened the training at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naivasha in August, 2010. KMTC Director Olang'o Onudi said training managers in leadership is critical to the improved performance of KMTC.

Research shows there is a gap in the operational and management skills among health workers. "Most of the managers in institutions discover their limited management and leadership skills when they are put in managerial positions," says a report by Director of Medical Services Dr. Francis Kimani on management and leadership development gaps for Kenya health managers.

The Italian government through the Italian Development Co-operation Office has signed an agreement with Kenya Medical Training College to sponsor the training of more than 60 students at the College.

The Italian Ambasssador Pierandrea Magistrati and KMTC Director Dr. Olang'o Onudi signed the contract in Nairobi, which will see 64 students – nine in anaesthesia, 15 in theatre nursing, 14 in intensive care nursing and 26 distance learners – trained at KMTC at a cost of more than Kshs9.4 million during this academic year only. College Registrar Mr Henry Nasengo witnessed the signing of the agreement in the Director's office.

The Government of Kenya and the Royal Government of the Netherlands are financing the implementation of a two-year ORET project, in which 23 hospitals' capacity will be strengthened. The project, which entails rehabilitation, equipment supply and training, is executed by Simed International, a Dutch company.

The training component involves training of health workers at KMTC on Casualty Care Nursing, Ultrasound, X-ray, Medical Engineering, Hospital Waste Management and Hospital Management.

MeduProf-S, a capacity-building company based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, is implementing the training, whose certification is done by Fontys University, Netherlands.

Since the beginning of the project in 2009, 26 hospital managers have been trained in seven modules to impart them with requisite knowledge and skills to effectively and efficiently manage public hospitals.