BY STEPHEN KILONZI & ANGELA R. KIURA
A private medical training college has officially opened in Embu Town, offering a fresh opportunity for students with limited academic qualifications to pursue careers in healthcare amid rising concerns over the safety of medical personnel during nationwide protests.
North Coast Medical Training College on Thursday launched its Embu campus, the first of its kind in the county, with plans to offer certificate and diploma programs—including perioperative theatre technology—tailored for students who did not attain university-entry grades.
“This is a game-changer for young people who dream of working in hospitals but didn’t get the grades for university. We are opening doors and giving hope,” said Dr. Kenneth Ireri, the institution’s medical director, during the launch.
The opening, however, comes against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Embu and follows violent protests witnessed across the country during the Saba Saba demonstrations.
Dr. Ireri strongly condemned the recent attack on doctors and nurses at Kitengela Sub-County Hospital by suspected criminals during the protests.
Calling the incident a “gross violation of medical neutrality,” he urged the national government to provide 24-hour armed police protection at health facilities, especially during unrest.
“Even in warzones, hospitals are protected under the Geneva Convention. What excuse do we have for failing to protect our medics in times of protest?” he posed.
Embu health workers have echoed his concerns, warning that failure to safeguard medical personnel could paralyze emergency services during demonstrations.
Dr. Ireri also dismissed claims linking the new college to Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, warning that such political associations risk placing the institution in harm’s way.
“This college is not a political project. It is a professional institution, and associating it with politicians is dangerous,” he stated.
As Embu embraces its newest center for medical training, the call for political neutrality in education and respect for healthcare spaces is growing louder.
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