Departments of Rehabilitation Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Moi University convened a virtual workshop on September 10, 2025, to review the proposed Master of Science (MSc) in Rehabilitation Curriculum.
The meeting also provided the stakeholders with insights into the Afrorehab2030 project, a European Union-funded initiative structured around six work packages (WPs).
The workshop brought together representatives from key professional bodies and institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Kenya Society of Physiotherapists, the Physiotherapy Council of Kenya, Circleg, the Kenya Occupational Therapists’ Association (KOTA), as well as faculty from JKUAT and Moi University.
JKUAT and Moi University are among the six partners implementing the project.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Wallace Karuguti, Chairman Department of Rehabilitation Science (JKUAT) and the Lead for Work Package Six (Communication and Dissemination), provided an overview of the Afrorehab2030 project. whose overarching goal is to establish a Master’s program in Rehabilitation, to strengthen training and service delivery in the region.
Participants were briefed on curriculum development process, which was preceded by needs assessment, and will also ensure to do benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, refinement and eventual piloting before commencement.
Dr Karuguti provided an overview of the needs assessment survey results which captured input from rehabilitation professionals, potential employers, service users, and other stakeholders in disability, education, social welfare, and related sectors.
Key challenges identified from the survey included; lack of specialized skills largely due to limited opportunities for career progression and continuous professional development. Respondents highlighted critical gaps such as digital rehabilitation and diagnostic competencies.
The survey also revealed that most rehabilitation professionals (whose exact numbers remain unknown due to limited data) rarely venture into research or academia. The proposed MSc program aims to bridge this gap by equipping practitioners with the skills needed to advance knowledge, innovation and practice in the field.
The session was also addressed by Dr. Naomi Kingau, Principal Investigator of the project from Moi University, who said the mode of delivery for the program would be online, onsite and blended.
Teaching methodologies will be student-centred, community-based, collaborative, and experiential enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life clinical and community settings, thereby gaining hands-on practical skills and confidence in patient care. The program’s expected learning outcomes were also outlined.
According to the presentation by Dr. King’au together with Dr. Mwangi Matheri, the Principal Investigator from JKUAT, the MSc. Program will have several exit specializations: Optometry, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Audiology, Prosthetics & Orthotics.
Participants had an opportunity to critique the program and give feedback that will be used to guide the project partners in refining the curriculum.
Moi University and JKUAT are working together with Muhimbili University, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University (Tanzania), Arcada University (Finland) and Western University of Applied Sciences (Norway).