The Kenyan Government, through the Ministry of Labour, has announced an opening in the United Kingdom (UK) targeting unemployed Kenyans.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, September 2, Labour CS Simon Chelugui noted that the UK had agreed to employ a total of 20,000 Kenyan nurses to fill the openings.
This comes after heightened talks between the government and its former colonial master on ways to foster their bilateral relations.
Chelugui further noted that Britain was experiencing a deficit of 62,000 nurses and extended 20,000 slots to nurses trained in Kenya.
“We are exporting Kenyan nurses. Last month we were in London with President Uhuru Kenyatta and had discussions with the UK government, which agreed to take 20,000 of their 62,000 shortage of nurses trained in Kenya.
“There is a benefit for us because our institutions are now being upgraded to international standards to offer training to fit the UK market," Chelugui was quoted by Nation.
A total of 894 nurses are already living and working in UK. In Kenya, roughly 30,000 nurses are still unemployed.
The Labour CS also confirmed that the first batch of successful applicants will be flown out of the country on October 15, 2021.
UK government also promised to work together with the Health Ministry
The CS further noted that it is evaluating some of the applications done by Kenyans before forwarding them to the Ministry of Health for approval.
The opportunity came after the two countries signed a Bilateral Agreement for collaboration on the healthcare workforce on July 29, 2021.
“Brexit is an opportunity for this country. The fact that Kenya’s education system, standards and language of instruction is English is a huge opportunity for our country.
"We are engaging our medical training schools to enhance capacity for the export market,” added Chelugui.
All applicants seeking to work in the UK must possess a Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Nursing from a recognized institution and be registered and licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya.
The applicant must have a valid Police Clearance Certificate and further not be to in a paid employment in the public or private sector in Kenya.
