KMTC Placements On KUCCPS Nullified By Parliament, 2023 Admissions to Delay
The placement process conducted by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) has been annulled by the National Assembly, delaying the 2023 admission of students to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
The Health parliamentary committee determined that the placement procedure was illegal and “riddled with illegalities.” The Robert Pukose-led committee declared the procedure invalid.
Due to the anomalies, the over 42,000 students who had previously applied to KMTC institutions must now begin the application process from scratch.
Pukose pointed out that the process was evidently null and void, emphasizing that a court order had explicitly mandated the KMTC board to handle student placements. He stated that the involvement of KUCCPS in conducting the placement was unlawful.
The committee also determined that KUCCPS should convey to KMTC the total of Ksh. 8.4 million paid by applicants.
Pukose further clarified that students who had already paid the application fee should not be required to make another payment when reapplying. He added that the decision on how the selection process would proceed would be deferred to the board’s authority.
The Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, appeared before the committee to explain the rationale behind allowing KUCCPS to conduct placements despite the fact that the law assigns this responsibility to the KMTC board.
Julius Sunkuli, the Kilgoris MP, inquired whether there was awareness of the legal implications, considering that a court injunction prevented any collaboration between KUCCPS and KMTC. He questioned whether legal counsel had been sought from the Attorney General.
Sunkuli asserted that KUCCPS had no rightful role in this placement and suggested that they be excluded from the process, advocating for the KMTC board to resume control.
The CS defended the decision to enable KUCCPS to conduct the placement process by stating that she was acting in accordance with an executive order.
42,000 students had applied to attend KMTC colleges, but KUCCPS had only assigned 11,975 (28% of the applicants), leaving over 30,000 students without a spot.
KMTC Placements On KUCCPS Nullified By Parliament, 2023 Admissions to Delay
