British High Commissioner Neil Wigan Defends Govt Stand on Migration of Kenyan Nurses to the UK

British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan has acknowledged the migration of Kenyan nurses to the United Kingdom (UK) as a mutually beneficial partnership.

In an interview with Citizen TV, Wigan acknowledged the high calibre of Kenyan nurses and their significant contribution to the UK's Kenyan diaspora. He emphasized that this initiative is not intended to undermine Kenya's healthcare system. Instead, it aims to address the UK's shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, while simultaneously offering employment opportunities to unemployed Kenyan nurses.

"We view this as a mutually beneficial arrangement," Wigan stated. "The UK faces a deficit in healthcare workers, especially nurses, and Kenyan nurses possess excellent qualifications. We are providing job opportunities to recently qualified nurses who are still seeking employment."

The British High Commissioner noted that the initiative specifically targets recently qualified nurses who haven't yet secured employment in Kenya. Wigan further lauded remittances from Kenyan nurses in the UK, affirming that they positively impact the country's economic standing. He further expressed that the UK-based nurses gain valuable skills and experience that could benefit the Kenyan healthcare system in the future.

Additionally, he assured that the UK's departure from the European Union wouldn't affect migration opportunities for Kenyans seeking employment abroad. However, the UK government is taking steps to manage migration levels. A March 11 policy prohibits care workers from bringing dependents into the country, aiming to reduce overall immigration numbers. Additionally, plans are underway to raise the minimum income threshold for skilled worker visas.

In February, Kenya's Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni countered criticism regarding the government's decision to send skilled medical professionals abroad despite staffing shortages within the country's public hospitals. Muthoni asserted that Kenya's educational institutions are producing a surplus of healthcare workers, effectively refuting claims that the initiative depletes the domestic workforce. As evidence, she cited that over 22,000 students graduated from Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC) in 2023 alone. This figure excludes graduates from private universities and colleges.

Muthoni emphasized that a majority of these well-trained nurses struggle to secure employment within the Kenyan healthcare system. The government, according to Muthoni, views the program as a means to connect recent graduates, particularly nurses, with employment opportunities. Kenya's health partnership agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) aims to facilitate the placement of 20,000 Kenyan nurses in UK hospitals by 2025.