More than 5,600 students graduated during the KMTC's 79th annual graduation ceremony held at Karen MTC Graduation Square, Nairobi, on Thursday 1st December.

The colourful ceremony, the first to be held in Karen, was presided over by the Minister for Medical Services, Hon. Prof. Anyang Nyong'o.

The graduation marked the end of two to three-and-a-half years of hard work by 5,646 students in 18 departments from 28 constituent Colleges of KMTC.

The Minister arrived to the venue at 11.00 am. He was received by the Board, led by the Vice-Chairman, Hon. Joe Donde, and the KMTC Director, Dr Olang'o Onudi. The Minister then planted a commemorative tree before officially inaugurating the new graduation venue.

In his speech, the Minister said Kenya should have an MTC campus in each of the 47 counties. He congratulated the college for opening new campuses in Bungoma and Nyamira to increase training opportunities.
Prof. Nyong'o noted the institution's capacity of 52 training programmes in diverse fields, is enabling the ministry to "meet the requirements of the health sector and its commitments to the achievement of Vision 2030 and Millennium Development Goals".
He praised KMTC graduates, especially nurses, who, he said, were the preferred choice in the continent, getting jobs as far as Namibia.

In their speeches, both Dr. Onudi and Hon. Joe Donde, highlighted some of the achievements of the college and its challenges. The Vice-Chairman's speech also listed the achievements of the current Board over the past two years.

Thanking the ministry for its support to KMTC's development, both assured the minister of the College's relentless efforts to deliver quality training.

The hard work and commitment of the Board, said the Chairman, was embodied in the outstanding achievements such as enactment of new Statutes, career guidelines, a risk management framework and promotion of deserving staff.

Students applauded the Director's announcement that plans are underway for KMTC to award degrees in the coming year. The staff members welcomed the award of commuter allowance, backdated to July 2011.

All constituent colleges' principals attended the ceremony.

Members of staff who had recently graduated from other universities were acknowledged. They included Dr Susan Muriungi, Mrs. Lucy Kuria, Mr. Mathew Kipturgor and Mr. Festus Lwambi.