• Being among the few institutions of higher learning in the area, the enrollment of students has had a ripple effect on the community around them. The need for student accommodation has led to the area's thriving residential real estate.

Nakuru College of Health Sciences and Management, located in Kiamunyi, along Nakuru-Kabarak road, was formed in 2003 to cater for students interested in pursuing medical and business courses.

The school, which is a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) approved college, offers various diplomas, certificates, and short courses that are accredited by major examination bodies, including the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), the Nursing Council of Kenya, and The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA).

The school grounds which embodies various classrooms and offices. (Photo/Courtesy: Michael Karanja)

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Some of the courses include Perioperative Theatre Technology, Health Records, IT, Medical Engineering, Nutrition and Dietetics, Environmental Science and Technology, Science Laboratory, Community Health, Patient Care Assistant, Social Work and Community Development, and Information Technology.

The administration block of the Nakuru College of Health Sciences and Management, Kiamunyi. (Photo/Courtesy: Michael Karanja)

The co-founders of the institution, Susan Akinyi Nyamai and her late husband Dominic Achayo Ong’alo, used a capital of 500,000 together with 120000 of Susan’s benefits to establish the school. Equity Bank also offered funding in 2006, which led to the expansion of one other branch in Agricultural Show Kenya in Nakuru city.

The main campus is on 5 acres of land in the Kiamunyi area. The serene environment, which is learner-friendly, is among the factors that have drawn students to the institution.

Being among the few institutions of higher learning in the area, the enrollment of students has had a ripple effect on the community around them. The need for student accommodation has led to the area's thriving residential real estate.

The school started with 20 students pursuing pharmaceutical technology. It also had 56 employees, 30 lecturers and 26 non-teaching staff.

Currently, there are about 200 students from all over the country. The school, which has become famous in Nakuru, has become a source of employment for many residents.

Samuel Gitonga, a matatu driver and resident of Nakuru, attests to the impact the school has had in terms of being a source of employment. Gitonga said he heard about the merits of the school despite not residing in the neighbourhood. The aspiring employee, who lives in the Pipeline area, decided to try his luck with the bus driver vacancy, citing the benefits of the school to him upon securing the job.

The Nakuru College of Health Sciences and Management school bus. (Photo/Courtesy: Michael Karanja)

 “This school being here is beneficial to many. If I get this job, I would be able to earn an extra source of income,” he said.

Gitonga said that if successful, the job would act as part-time source of income.

 “The job demands that I carry students to the hospital for practical lessons in the morning and bring them back home in the evening. This means, I would still be able to carry on with my daily activities as usual, only demanding a few hours for the school job,” he added.

Like most locals, Gitonga feels that the presence of such institutions shines a beam of hope for the community.