76 nurses leave Kenya for UK as 79 fail English test
Kenya sends second batch of 76 nurses to UK under agreement signed in 2021 agreeing about 20,000 health workers be hired within three years
Kenya sends second batch of 76 nurses to UK under agreement signed in 2021 agreeing about 20,000 health workers be hired within three years.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha on Monday (August 21) flagged off the second batch of 76 nurses from Kenya to work in the United Kingdom.
The second group of nurses, chosen from 701 candidates, will depart the country on the 24th of this month, according to the CS.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed the Bilateral Labour Agreement (BLA) between Kenya and the UK in July of last year.
Only 424 nurses satisfied the qualifications, according to the CS, and their applications were sent to other recruiters for review while 277 nurses did not.
According to the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and the Ministry of Health’s progress report on the hiring of Kenyan nurses for the Kenya-UK bilateral health workforce, 198 applicants did not take the Occupational English Test (OET) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), 79 did not pass the IELTS tests, 200 did not take the Computer Based Testing (CBT), and 77 did not pass the CBT.
NCK report further reveals 36 nurses failed interviews due to insufficient experience, while 52 candidates who recently applied passed interviews and are awaiting processing of their Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and pre-employment checks (46 are being processed by Royal Berkshire Hospital and 6 by Oxford University).
They had either worked in hospitals with low bed capacity (less than 200 patients – bed) or did not satisfy the recruiting panel.
Seventy-seven nurses met all the requirements and their CVs and application documents have been shared with recruiting agencies in the UK while 75 nurses met requirements though their applications have not been submitted to the recruiting agencies. Ten nurses dropped out of the process for personal reasons.
According to Dr Edna Tallam-Kimaiyo, the Registrar/CEO of the Nursing Council of Kenya, in order to increase the success rate of nurses recruited under this bilateral agreement, they have made a number of recommendations which include:
- Placement of nurses on a six (6) to twelve (12-month internship programme in GOK hospitals with a bed capacity of at least 200 patients (most trusts give preference to nurses with such experience).
- Publishing the guidelines for the bilateral agreement to provide for a procurement agent(s) to take over the current role being played by NCK on an interim basis.
- Having a continuous engagement of nurses in providing information on successful and unsuccessful candidates to strengthen the pipeline.
- Submitting quarterly progress reports to MOH on the progress of BLA implementation.
- Conducting a sensitisation webinar on bilateral agreement jobs and their working conditions.
- Nurses to be supported by the Kenya Medical Training Institute (KMTC) on English proficiency and Computer Based Testing (CBT).
- Advertising for continuous recruitment and sustainable supply.
“At the heart of every thriving healthcare system lies the dedication and expertise of our nurses, they are often the unsung heroes of our healthcare sector, yet the pillars of our healthcare infrastructure. The contributions of our nurses to the well-being of our society are truly invaluable,” CS Nakhumicha said.
She added that the government-to-government bilateral labour agreement between Kenya and the United Kingdom exemplifies the strength and benefits of international collaboration and partnerships.
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“It offers an opportunity for exchange of skills and knowledge in the field of healthcare while fostering a stronger bond between our nations, promoting cultural exchange and understanding, while at the same time addressing the challenges in our respective healthcare systems.”
The Health CS added: “I reckon that questions abound on the impact of this agreement regarding the drain on our domestic healthcare resources. Let me allay these fears today by stating that this agreement bears testament to a common spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility,” she said.
She added: “The capacity to send skilled nurses abroad reflects the strength of our own healthcare workforce. Thus, we have worked tirelessly to invest in training, education, and career development for our nurses at home, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals for the future.”
The report also highlights that 161 Kenyan nurses are currently in the UN since the inception of the bilateral agreement.
Last year, the first batch of 19 nurses qualified to work in the UK after a rigorous process was undertaken to get the final list from 3, 329 nurses who had applied.
Of the 19, 13 were attached to the Oxford University Hospital.
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