200 Students from Somalia to join Mandera College annually, Kenya official

NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – Kenya will train over 200 Somali medical students annually following an agreement between Somalia and Kenya, an official said.

Last year, during his first visit to Kenya, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo signed an education agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta which allows Somali students to have learning opportunities in Kenya.

Soon-to-be-built Mandera Medical Training will issue an offer of a place to 200 Somali students as part of the deal inked by two leaders of Somalia and Kenya.

Mandera County governor, Ali Roba who spoke to the media said Mandera campus will train students from Somalia every year on full sponsorship from Somali government.

“Immediately we complete the construction of this campus, the college will start enrolling students among them will be 200 learners from Somalia in accordance with agreements between the countries,” the leader said.

According to Mr. Roba, the foundation stone of the construction will be laid soon after the county government releases the funds earmarked for the construction.

He said the construction cost of the college which is subsidiary of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is expected to hit Kenya Shillings 300,000,000 ($2980,000).

“We have already committed Sh150 million ($1,485,000) this financial year and a similar amount in the next financial year for the development of the new campus,” he affirmed.

The governor also confirmed that his government equips Mandera Hospital to give the students training opportunities.

“We are upgrading the county referral hospital to a state-of-the-art facility to support the training of students and serve the people of Mandera better,” Mr. Roba said.

KMTC board chairman Philip Kaloki who also talked to the media said that college is equal to the task of supporting Mandera county government to improve the health of its people through tailor-made courses.

“We want to offer nursing and certificate in community health extension workers when the campus opens its doors in March 2019,” Kaloki said.