Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday, October 27, disclosed that only ten nurses who underwent an English test for the United Kingdom, passed.
In an interview, Kagwe urged nurses who would like to explore opportunities in future to be conversant with the English language.
He added that the government was working to train health workers and ensure they got employment, not only in Kenya but also in other countries.
The government negotiated for the export of nurses as well as clinical officers in a bid to strengthen the health system back in the country.
Kagwe added that the government was in talks with Middle East Countries and Khartoum in a bid to absorb Kenyan clinical officers.
"We shall fight for our health workers, if you can't get a job in Kenya then they shall get it elsewhere," Kagwe stated.
In late September 2021, Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache, her Labour counterpart Peter Tum, and officials from the Nursing Council of Kenya, negotiated terms of employment for nurses heading to the UK.
The deal was a culmination of meetings between President Uhuru Kenyatta and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to tap into the unemployed workforce in the country and address the shortage of nurses in England.
“Our health partnership with Kenya is 30 years old and growing stronger by the month. This new agreement on health workers allows us to share skills and expertise even further, and is a fantastic opportunity for Kenyans to work in the UK,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott stated.
Kenya is among countries with the highest number of citizens working in the UK.
“The Government of Kenya will not receive any money from the salaries of Kenyan nurses working in NHS. Under the agreement between the UK and Kenya, nurses will be employed by NHS trusts under individual contracts and their salaries will be paid directly to them,” NHS official reiterated.
