Navakholo KMTC Set for Historic First Graduation in 2025 Milestone

By Emmanuel Nyanza - On a breezy morning, the air is filled with quiet anticipation as students move between newly painted lecture halls and dorm blocks. Laughter echoes across the grounds, where once there was only red soil and sketches on paper. 

Today, Navakholo Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is not just a campus, it’s a living dream, and in 2025, it will mark a milestone that was years in the making: its first-ever graduation ceremony.

This event is more than just a formality, it’s a powerful symbol of growth, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future.

Established to expand access to vocational and medical training in rural Kenya, Navakholo KMTC has undergone a remarkable transformation. 

Supported by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), the campus boasts twelve newly built lecture halls, a growing student village, and a steadily evolving learning environment. 

Construction of the main academic blocks between 2017 and 2021 laid the foundation for what has now become a thriving institution.

But it’s not just about buildings, it’s about purpose.

In April 2025, the campus received a major boost: accreditation from the Nursing Council of Kenya to offer the Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN) program. 

This move marked a turning point, officially ushering in a new era of professional training and unlocking opportunities for students to serve their communities through healthcare.

The accreditation has paved the way for the first cohort of KRCHN students, placing the institution at the heart of public health development in underserved regions like Kakamega County.

Navakholo KMTC is no longer just a training center, it’s a hub of local economic and social activity. The presence of students, lecturers, and external stakeholders has breathed new life into the town, spurring local business growth, enhancing skills development, and creating a ripple effect across the district.

With enrollment on the rise, continued investment in infrastructure, especially academic and residential spaces, is critical in sustaining momentum.

The upcoming 2025 graduation will be historic. These first graduates represent years of hard work, community mobilization, curriculum development, and perseverance through Kenya’s educational hurdles. 

Their success is not just individual, it is collective. It reflects a journey powered by government backing, community goodwill, and a strong belief in the value of education.

As the newly trained KRCHN professionals join the workforce, the impact will be felt across the rural healthcare system. Their entry into hospitals and community clinics supports the broader national goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

And this is just the beginning.

With the nursing program successfully running, the institution is setting its sights on accreditation for other professional courses in areas such as public health, ICT, and engineering, broadening academic pathways for future learners.

The Class of 2025 will go down in history, not just for being the first, but for laying a foundation that others will build upon. A culture of learning by doing, civic engagement, and academic achievement is taking root in Navakholo.

Navakholo KMTC's success story could very well serve as a model for other marginalized regions, showing what is possible when community vision meets institutional support.

In just a few years, what was once a proposal on paper is now a fully-fledged campus. And as caps are tossed into the air and diplomas awarded, it’s clear, Navakholo KMTC isn’t just graduating students. It’s building a legacy.

As this community celebrates a major milestone, one question lingers: How many more untapped corners of Kenya hold the same potential, just waiting for a chance to rise?