First Batch of Kenyan Nurses Prepares to Leave for the UK

Kenya is set to send the first group of nurses to the United Kingdom in October, the government has said.

The nurses will be employed in the UK National Health Service (NHS) under a bilateral labor agreement between Kenya and the UK. 

The MoU on the Kenya-UK Health Workforce Collaboration, which provides a framework for the exchange of healthcare workers between the two countries, was signed during President Kenyatta’s visit to London in July. 

A Kenyan delegation led by Labor CS Simon Chelugui and Health PS Susan Mochache is currently in London to discuss the final touches of the implementation of the agreement.

The officials are seeking to negotiate for better terms for Kenyan health professionals set to be employed by the UK government.

Chelugui said Kenya will be sending about 20,000 nurses to the UK to address a shortage of 62,000. 

There are nearly 900 Kenyan nurses presently working in the UK public healthcare system.

The first cohort of between 1,000 and 2,000 Kenyan caregivers is expected to leave for the UK by October 15th.