BRIDGING RESEARCH AND POLICY: EMPOWERING KMTC RESEARCHERS FOR IMPACT
In todays latest KMTC News – For many researchers, the journey from discovery to implementation is often hindered by one major challenge, the inability to translate research findings into effective policy briefs. Without clearer, concise, and actionable summaries, groundbreaking research risks gathering dust instead of shaping real-world solutions.
Recognizing this gap, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Nakuru Campus hosted an intensive and practical one week training dubbed translating research to policy from January 27 – 31, 2025. The training workshop aimed at equipping researchers with the skills to bridge research and policy. The workshop brought together professionals from the KMTC research fraternity and beyond to foster a dynamic learning environment.
Leading the training were renowned experts in research and policy translation including Dr. Wagaki Gicheru, the Head of E-learning at KMTC, Dr. Bernard Olayo, founder and Chairperson of the Center for Public Health and Development (CPHD), Dr. Peter Mwiti, Chief Principal Nurse and Researcher at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Mr. Francis Njiri, a Research and Grants Officer at the University of Nairobi.
Through hands-on sessions, participants have learned to synthesize research findings, craft compelling recommendations, and develop policy briefs that influence decision-making. The message was clear: research alone is not enough. For findings to make a tangible difference in healthcare systems, they must be transformed into practical policy recommendations that drive action at institutional and national levels.
KMTC has long been at the forefront of health sector research, producing valuable insights that, when properly communicated, have the potential to reshape healthcare policies and improve service delivery. With this training, researchers left with not just new skills but a renewed commitment to ensuring their work translates into impactful policies that improve healthcare outcomes.
As Dr. Muthoka Kyalo, one of the participants, who is also a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Public Health at KMTC and a seasoned researcher puts it, “This training has confirmed that a well-developed policy brief can be the bridge between knowledge and action.”
With stronger evidence-based advocacy, KMTC researchers are now better equipped to turn knowledge into actionable outputs, ensuring that their work directly contributes to better healthcare policies and practices.