Challenges Of Off-Campus Living For Non- Resident Students In Kenya Medical Training College

Purpose: The study aimed at determining challenges of off campus living environment for non-resident students' in Kenya Medical Training College (K.M.T.C). The specific objectives were to find out academic challenges, find out social economic challenges and infrastructural challenges. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done. The target population was all non-residents students living outside the college premise which was 2274 students. The study purposively sampled Nairobi campus and Msambweni campus and Simple random sampling was used to sample in the campuses and sample size was 212. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics whereas qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Qualitative data was transformed into quantitative and analyzed with the helped of SPSS version 25. Collected data was edited, sorted, cleaned and coded for data analysis. Findings: The findings were presented using percentages and frequencies, tables, pie charts and bar graphs. Accessibility to library services from the place of residence was a challenge to 78.8% of the respondents which was significant at p <0.001 and internet access was a challenge to 87.8% this was significant at p 0.007. Transport and rent were also found to be a challenge for respondents with 79.7% spending between 1000- 10,000 on rent. Respondents were satisfied with the infrastructure 78.3% with sewerage and 94.3% with lighting. The study concluded that students experience challenges in accessing important aspects of learning like lectures, group discussion and skills lab and student's cost of living is a challenge for students living off campus. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that KMTC management should construct hostels for students or identify areas where students can be accommodated that are not far from college and that has proper sanitation. Principals in colleges should collaborate with the community and other security agencies to ensure security of students who reside off campus. A further study should be done on the effect of off campus living on the academic performance of students.