Members of Parliament from the Education and Health Committees have urged reforms in Kenya's health training standards following a report exposing significant deficiencies in medical institutions. The Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority's survey highlighted unregistered operations and lack of practical training in some colleges. Lawmakers emphasized the need for harmonized regulations to ensure quality in the health workforce.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, MPs from Kenya's Education and Health Committees called for urgent reforms in health training standards at colleges and universities. This followed a report by the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA), which surveyed 152 medical training institutions during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years.
The report found that approximately 8% of these institutions—around 12—were operating without proper registration and licensing documents, yet they continued to admit students for medical courses. Many lacked adequate faculty and failed to provide clinical attachments, essential for practical experience. Jackson Kioko, CEO of KHPOA, noted the variations in program durations: certificate courses ranged from 6 to 12 months, while diplomas lasted 24 to 36 months. Some institutions offered no clinical exposure, while others provided between 0 and 24 months of practical training.
"Entry requirements for similar courses varied widely, with certificate courses ranging from 6–12 months and diploma courses lasting 24–36 months. Additionally, some colleges provided no clinical exposure at all, while others offered 0–24 months of practical training," Kioko stated. He further warned, “Our assessment revealed that some institutions train without adequate faculty, without clinical attachments, and in some cases without even being registered. This is a risk to patient safety and the credibility of our health workforce.”
The Association of Medical Training Institutions of Kenya (AMTI-K) had petitioned Parliament, alleging discriminatory practices, arbitrary fees, and overlapping mandates among regulators for private medical colleges. In response, the committees stressed equal regulation for public and private institutions to standardize training.
Seme MP James Nyikal said, “It has become clear that there are far too many bodies regulating health training, yet the quality of graduates is still uncertain. The fees charged to private institutions are prohibitive and inconsistent. We must harmonise training standards.” Tinderet MP Julius Melly added, “The mandates of each regulator must be clarified in law. The Principal Acts need to be updated to align health training with national needs.”
Oversight bodies attribute the rise in unregulated institutions to global demand for healthcare workers, which is compromising quality assurance in Kenya's health sector.