A signpost at the proposed Marigat Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) site in Baringo South.
On July 1, 2021, a foundation stone was laid for the proposed Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campus in Marigat, Baringo County.
Four years later, however, the only visible developments on the 10-acre plot next to Marigat Sub-County Hospital are a gate, a perimeter fence, and a signpost leading to an institution that never materialised beyond the groundbreaking ceremony.
The Daily Nation team set out to investigate the delay and established that the project stalled due to a lack of proper documentation – specifically, the absence of a title deed. This bureaucratic obstacle has left the future of the once-promising initiative hanging in the balance.
The gate at the site of the proposed Marigat Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) site in Baringo South.
The proposed satellite campus was initially welcomed by locals as a much-needed boost to Baringo County’s overstretched healthcare system, with hopes of addressing the chronic shortage of medical personnel.
Present at the 2021 launch were Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren, then-KMTC CEO Michael Kiptoo, and former Deputy Governor Jacob Chepkwony.
But today, the site lies idle – overgrown with shrubs and enclosed by a barbed-wire fence erected through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Frustrated residents are now demanding accountability, urging the authorities to clarify the status of the stalled project.
Mr Solomon Ng’etich, a Marigat resident, accused local leaders of using the project as a political gimmick, saying it was launched in the run-up to the 2022 General Election merely to win votes.
“We expected a thriving institution by now, perhaps even the first cohort of students graduating. Instead, there’s only a vandalised gate – no buildings, no activity,” he said.
Another resident, Mr Meja Kimunyan, wondered why construction had not begun despite land being earmarked and funds allocated. Mr Paul Kipyemat echoed this sentiment.
“We were optimistic in 2021 that our children would study here and our hospitals would finally be staffed adequately. Now it’s just a branded gate and fence with no structures,” said Mr Kipyemat.
NG-CDF allocated Sh20 million
In response, both the area MP and MCA admitted the delay, attributing it to unresolved paperwork. Mr Kamuren said that construction could not begin without a formal title deed, although he assured residents that no funds had been lost. He urged the county government to fast-track the process.
According to the MP, NG-CDF allocated Sh20 million to the project in the 2022/2023 financial year and another Sh10 million in 2023/2024. KMTC had also committed to supporting the campus’s implementation.
“This project cannot proceed on land without a valid title deed,” Mr Kamuren said. “During Mashujaa Day in 2023, I issued a Sh500,000 cheque to Governor Cheboi to help facilitate the title. Yet, to date, it has not been issued.”
He further challenged the area MCA, Nixon Lemlem, to account for his role in pushing the process forward, given the significance of the project to local residents.
However, Mr Lemlem argued that while title deeds are generally lacking in Marigat, this had not prevented development in other areas. He explained that the county had issued a letter of no objection and that the land had already been subdivided and surveyed, with all documentation submitted to the Ministry of Lands.
“We completed the sub-division and handed over the necessary documents. The delay now lies with the national government,” said Mr Lemlem. “I believe the hold-up is more about funding than documentation.”
County Lands Executive Reuben Ruto supported this position, stating that the matter now rests with the national administration.
“The documents have been submitted to the Director of Physical Planning. We are awaiting approval before allotment letters are issued. The delay is beyond the county’s control,” he said.
In a letter dated November 13, 2023, addressed to the Baringo South NG-CDF manager, then-KMTC Kabarnet Campus Principal Florence Oloo reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to establishing the Marigat campus, pending confirmation of land ownership.
“We are committed to collaborating with NG-CDF, local leaders and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation. While KMTC requires land ownership for satellite campuses, we believe this can be achieved through joint effort,” she wrote.
KMTC Board Chairman Joseah Cheruiyot clarified that the project had not been formally handed over to the institution. He noted that further details could be provided by the MP, as the project is funded by NG-CDF.
As it stands, the KMTC Marigat project has become a symbol of stalled development – an idea that generated hope but remains mired in red tape and unfulfilled promises.
