A fierce dispute has erupted over the proposed location of Kirinyaga County’s first Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), pitting the neighboring constituencies of Gichugu and Kirinyaga Central against each other, and threatening to stall the much-anticipated project.
The row was sparked by a letter dated July 14, 2025, from Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to his Education counterpart Migos Ogamba, requesting that 10 acres of land be hived off from Kianyaga Boys High School in Gichugu Constituency for the construction of the KMTC campus.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from leaders and residents in Kirinyaga Central, who argue that the location is not only contentious but also ill-suited for a medical training facility.
Residents of Kirinyaga Central say land had already been identified for the college near Kerugoya Level Five Hospital, a three-year-old facility that would offer immediate clinical exposure to students. They argue that the hospital’s proximity makes Kerugoya the more logical choice.
“We had been promised that KMTC would be built in Kerugoya,” said local resident Beth Wairimu. “Now we are hearing it is being shifted to Kianyaga, yet that land belongs to a school. This is confusing and unfair.”
Kerugoya MCA Eric Muchina echoed the concerns, citing national precedent in locating KMTC campuses close to referral hospitals.
“Across the country, you’ll find KMTC campuses situated near major hospitals. How can Gichugu expect to benefit when students will have to be transported over long distances to Kerugoya for their practicals?” he posed.
However, leaders and residents from Gichugu have welcomed the proposal, pointing to the Kianyaga Level IV Hospital currently under construction as a viable training ground for future students.
“This college will uplift our region. Our children won’t have to travel far anymore, and businesses around here will grow,” said Margaret Njeri, a Gichugu resident.
Another local, Mugo Gikombe, urged calm and unity: “KMTC will benefit the entire county—Gichugu, Ndia, Mwea—so let’s not politicize this. It should be about development, not rivalry.”
In his letter, CS Duale justified the ministry’s preference for Kianyaga by citing the site’s proximity to the upcoming Level IV facility.
But the move has drawn scrutiny from other political leaders, including NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, who questioned the manner in which public land was being allocated without community consultation.
“Kianyaga High School’s land belongs to the public. If there are plans to cede part of it, it must be done transparently. There must be public participation,” said Karua. “We will not accept secret letters that result in land grabs or stalled development.”
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, herself a native of Kirinyaga, has urged restraint, warning that the growing tensions could derail a project meant to benefit the entire county.
“Let’s tone down the rhetoric. We risk politicizing a development that should unify, not divide us,” she appealed.
