KMTC decries space shortage as thousands of certificates dating back six decades remain uncollected

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has urged graduates to retrieve their unclaimed certificates, citing a critical shortage of storage space due to the accumulation of thousands of documents.

KMTC Chief Executive Officer Kelly Oluoch said the institution currently houses certificates and other academic documents dating back over 60 years.

He noted that despite ongoing media reminders, many graduates have not collected their certificates.

“In 2023, KMTC saw around 22,000 students graduate, but approximately 5,000 certificates are still awaiting collection. We have thousands more certificates and other academic documents, stored in our facilities, some dating back over 60 years. Additionally, some clients request document verification but fail to collect them,” Oluoch said.

Oluoch reiterated the challenges posed by the uncollected documents stating, “When these documents are not picked up, they take up valuable storage space.”

Penalties

To incentivise timely collection, KMTC has said penalties will apply to graduates failing to collect their certificates. For certificates unclaimed within a year graduates will be charged Sh1,000 while for those unclaimed for over a year will be charged Sh2,000.

According to the institution, masons were working to dismantle walls to create additional space, while fireproof cabinets were being installed.

It noted that the atmosphere at the institution was “one of urgency” as teams worked continuously to reconfigure the storage space.

“This is what happens when your store is full and you are running out of space,” KMTC Deputy Director of Academics Nyawira Mwangi explained.

The institution CEO acknowledged that there are past challenges with information storage but assured that KMTC is addressing the issues through technological advancements.

“We have acquired a state-of-the-art Qidenus Scanner that will enable us to scan, store, and share information and learning materials. This will also help us secure our certificates, making them easier to retrieve when needed,” Oluoch said.

Despite the efforts, Oluoch stressed the need for graduates to collect their documents promptly.

“When you want to convert every available room into storage for certificates, it limits the College’s ability to use those spaces for learning,” he said.

In response to increasing demand for academic services, KMTC said it is considering decentralizing some services, such as transcript issuance to various campuses to alleviate congestion at the headquarters.