KMTC Leads Major Forest Restoration Drive in Loitoktok

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has intensified its commitment to environmental conservation with a large-scale forest restoration exercise held on March 26, 2026, at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Loitoktok Forest Block.

The initiative, aligned with the national Presidential Tree Growing Agenda, saw KMTC mobilize partners and stakeholders to rehabilitate degraded forest land while reinforcing its institutional sustainability plan. In a significant step, the College has adopted nearly 10 acres of the forest block, marking a long-term commitment to ecosystem restoration.

During the exercise, KMTC planted 8,000 tree seedlings, including replacements for those that did not survive from a previous planting effort. This builds on last year’s success, where 3,000 seedlings were planted with an impressive 95 percent survival rate—an achievement that underscores the College’s focus on sustainable, results-driven environmental action.

Speaking during the event, KMTC CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch highlighted the link between environmental conservation and public health.

“As future healthcare professionals, our students understand that health is not just about medicine; it is deeply connected to a thriving environment. By restoring our forests, we are investing in cleaner air, sustainable water sources, and ultimately, healthier communities,” he said.

This year’s initiative introduced enhanced sustainability measures aimed at improving tree survival rates. These include engaging local communities in livestock control to prevent damage to seedlings, involving the KMTC Loitoktok Campus Environmental Club, and strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and local administration.

The restoration effort attracted a broad coalition of partners, including World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greening Loitoktok Community-Based Organization, Community Forest Associations, Nice Place Foundation, the Office of the President (Loitoktok), Equity Bank, and the National Police Service.

The exercise was led by KMTC Loitoktok Campus Principal Nicholas Rutto and received strong backing from the broader KMTC community, including staff, management, and the College’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

Also present were key contributors such as Ayub Shariff Mutanda, a librarian and environmental advocate, alongside CSR representatives Angela Kanini and Nelson Mapesa.

Through this initiative, KMTC continues to demonstrate leadership in integrating healthcare training with environmental stewardship, reinforcing the critical role of healthy ecosystems in building resilient communities.