By Wasike Elvis
In a powerful demonstration of the impact of diaspora-driven partnerships on national development, the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has received a donation of 20,000 modern medical textbooks. This significant contribution was made possible through a strategic collaboration between the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Books for Africa, and the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.
The donation, which will benefit KMTC campuses in Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western Kenya, marks a major milestone in Kenya’s broader agenda to strengthen healthcare systems and professional training under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The textbooks will directly support health worker education, particularly in critical disciplines such as nursing, clinical medicine, and other medical specialties.
A Boost to Training Capacity
Speaking at the flag-off event for the distribution of the books, Lucy Chebungei, Deputy Director in charge of Finance, Planning, and Administration at KMTC, emphasized the transformative impact this donation will have on health training in the country.
“We are very pleased to have received these 20,000 books, which will be distributed among our campuses across Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western regions,” she said.
“The college has already completed the sorting of the books, and our librarians are ready to facilitate the distribution. These textbooks will greatly enhance the quality of education at KMTC, especially in departments that have historically faced shortages in learning materials.”
Chebungei added that KMTC’s training model places a strong emphasis on practical skills, with 70% of the curriculum dedicated to hands-on training and 30% to theory. Access to updated textbooks is therefore vital for students to build both theoretical knowledge and clinical competence.
“In many of our campuses, students have had to rely on outdated or inaccessible resources. These books are up-to-date, and their availability will bridge significant learning gaps in our libraries,” she noted.
Diaspora Philanthropy at Work
Louze Braxton, a board member of Books for Africa, has been personally involved in distributing educational resources across the continent. He underscored the urgent need for books in African institutions and reaffirmed his commitment to closing the educational resource gap.
“Having worked and travelled extensively across Africa, I’ve witnessed the acute shortage of learning materials, especially in the medical and technical fields. That’s why I’ve dedicated myself to this mission,” Braxton shared.
“Across Kenya, we’ve donated 40,000 books so far—half of which have gone to KMTC campuses in this region. Overall, I’ve distributed over 300,000 books across Africa, and I aim to reach one million in the coming years.”
Braxton said he hoped this initiative would encourage others in the diaspora and international development space to support educational and healthcare systems in Africa.
Government Commitment and Vision
Representing the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Polycap Otedo, Deputy Director for Foreign Services, reiterated the government’s focus on leveraging diaspora engagement to achieve national development goals.
“This partnership aligns squarely with the Health Pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Access to quality medical training and learning materials is essential to building a competent health workforce that can serve Kenyans effectively,” said Otedo.
“We are proud to facilitate and support this collaboration with Books for Africa and KMTC. It reflects the broader vision of the State Department—to tap into the expertise, goodwill, and resources of Kenyans abroad for the betterment of our country.”
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has committed to expanding similar initiatives to other training institutions and sectors across the country, with a view to empowering youth through education, skills development, and job creation.
County Leaders and Students Voice Support
Also present at the event was Sarah Malel Kimumu, Member of the County Assembly and Deputy Speaker, who commended the donation and called for further investment in educational infrastructure.
“This initiative by Books for Africa is highly commendable. A healthy nation means a more productive nation, and it all starts with how we train our future health professionals,” she said.
“However, we must also address infrastructural challenges. For instance, in one of our KMTC campuses, more than 2,000 students are forced to share a library space that can only accommodate 20 people at a time. This is a serious gap. As a county government, we are committed to supporting expansion of library facilities and are calling on other partners to join us.”
Students at KMTC also expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support.
Gena Muta, a nursing student, highlighted the financial burden many students face in acquiring academic materials.
“Medical textbooks are very expensive. Most of us can’t afford them, and that really affects our learning. This donation is a huge relief and will help us study more effectively. We’re very thankful to Books for Africa,” said Gena.
Michael Kegode, another student, added:
“The number of books in our libraries has always been too small. These new resources will make a big difference. We promise to take good care of them and use them to advance our education.”
A Model for Sustainable Partnerships
The event not only highlighted the critical need for educational resources but also set the stage for sustained collaboration between diaspora organizations and Kenyan institutions. The Books for Africa initiative is just one example of how targeted, strategic philanthropy can have a lasting impact on human capital development.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs is now working to scale up such interventions, reinforcing the message that the Kenyan diaspora has a crucial role to play in national transformation. With more partners on board, the dream of building a more educated, healthier, and prosperous Kenya is within reach.
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