Senate Committee to Investigate Implications of Sending Nurses Abroad

Kenya’s healthcare sector faces a growing crisis as many nurses seek employment abroad.

Senator George Mbugua has called upon the Standing Committee on Health to investigate this trend. The investigation will focus on the extent of the nurse exodus by gathering data on the number of nurses who have obtained licenses to work overseas in the past three years. This information is crucial for understanding the magnitude of the problem. The investigation will also examine efforts to bolster the domestic nursing workforce.

The committee will assess initiatives undertaken by the Kenya Medical Training College and the Ministry of Health to increase student enrollment in nursing programs. This is essential to address the growing demand for nurses within Kenya’s borders. Furthermore, the inquiry will explore strategies to retain healthcare professionals. The committee will determine if the government has implemented programs to incentivize nurses and other medical personnel to remain in the country, particularly in underserved regions facing critical staffing shortages.

Finally, the investigation will explore knowledge transfer opportunities. The committee will assess the existence of programs facilitating the transfer of expertise from experienced nurses who migrate abroad to those who continue to practice within the Kenyan healthcare system. This knowledge transfer could help mitigate the negative impact of nurse emigration. This investigation comes amidst rising concerns from various stakeholders. The Council of Governors has criticized the government’s plan to send trained nurses overseas, highlighting the existing workforce shortages within Kenya.

The National Nurses Association of Kenya has also emphasized the dire situation in public hospitals, where a single ward may have only four nurses to care for 40 patients. By investigating these issues, Senator Mbugua and the Standing Committee on Health aim to comprehensively understand the challenges facing Kenya’s healthcare sector. Meanwhile, a groundbreaking collaboration between Mount Kenya University (MKU) and Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Germany is paving the way for Kenyan healthcare professionals to explore exciting career opportunities abroad.

This innovative initiative aligns seamlessly with the Kenyan government’s strategic efforts to expand job prospects for its citizens in the global arena. This partnership presents Kenyan healthcare workers with an opportunity to participate in paid apprenticeships and secure employment in German hospitals. This program not only offers invaluable hands-on experience but also facilitates the export of Kenyan skills and expertise to the international market, a goal that the government has been actively pursuing through bilateral labour agreements, including one with Germany.

The university’s ambitious goal is to prepare 5,000 Kenyans for employment in Germany across diverse industries, leveraging the synergies created by this strategic partnership.