KU, KUTRRH Resolve Six-Year Dispute with New Medical Training Agreement
The agreement paves the way for KU medical students, lecturers and trainee health workers to fully utilise KUTRRH’s facilities, six years after the hospital became operational in 2019
By : Mweru Mbugua
Kenyatta University (KU) and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), ending a six-year standoff that had denied medical students access to the hospital for practical training
The agreement paves the way for KU medical students, lecturers and trainee health workers to fully utilise KUTRRH’s facilities, six years after the hospital became operational in 2019
For years, strained relations between the two institutions stalled collaboration, leaving students unable to access the state-of-the-art teaching and referral hospital established to support medical education
The newly signed MoU marks a major turning point, formally restoring cooperation
Speaking during the signing ceremony at KUTRRH, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina described the agreement as a historic milestone, playing down the prolonged dispute as initial operational challenges
“There has been no bad blood between the university and the hospital. We have only had teething problems, which are now resolved. The question of ownership is no longer relevant,” Prof. Wainaina said
Prof. Wainaina, who is set to retire next year after eight years in office, noted that the deal brings an end to a long-standing stalemate and will significantly enhance medical training
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He said trainee doctors, nurses and medical lecturers from KU will now enjoy unrestricted access to the hospital’s facilities for hands-on learning
KUTRRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zainab Gura said collaboration between the two institutions had already begun earlier this year
She revealed that 200 KU medical students were admitted to the hospital’s training wing in August, with more expected as the partnership is fully implemented
The MoU is expected to strengthen medical education, research and service delivery, benefiting both institutions while improving the training of future healthcare professionals in Kenya
