With over 82,000 registered nurses and nearly 60 per cent of them jobless as of April 2024 the ministry of health data show Kenya is grappling with a high incidence rate of redundant skilled labour. The dilemma is made more complicated when the numbers are broken into 10,000 graduate nurses and 39,458 enrolled nurses who were not employed at the beginning of last year.

Against this backdrop, rising demand for trained nurses in the United States of America, Canada and Australia offers redundant healthcare workers an escape valve to gainful employment through a skills transfer programme being undertaken by Kenyan Nurses Consultants Limited in liaison with ReMar Review, an American organisation.

According to the two organisations, the high demand for nurse overseas for Kenyan healthcare workers will ameliorate the daunting tasks county and national governments face in tackling high unemployment in a sector that continues to churn out every year thousands of qualified workers against a depressed national absorption rate of skilled personnel.

The data on nursing in Kenya does not include 18,198 medical laboratory technologists, “which is projected to increase to 19,697 by 2025 and to 23,023 by 2035. Thus, the medical laboratory technologists are anticipated to increase by 26.5 per cent between 2021 and 2035 if no interventions are made to influence the training capacity and throughputs from the training institutions.”

The ministry health says further that while in 2021 there were 11,129 medical officers, the number is projected to expand by just 7 per cent to 11,893 by 2030. “If the supply dynamics remain the same, the supply of medical officers is likely to increase by a further 11 per cent to 12,340 in 2035,” according to the ministry of health.

As the government grapples with high unemployment in the nursing sector, “the supply of pharmacists is anticipated to increase from 4,069 in 2021 to 5,304 by 2030 and 5,912 by 2035 assuming the training capacity and throughputs remains similar. The supply of pharmacy technologists, however, is increasing slowly by 0.8 per cent (range: 0.7-1 per cent) annually. There is thus, a seeming de-accelerating in the training outputs of pharmacy technologist leading to an expected 12.2 per cent increase in their supply from 11,429 in 2021 to 12,825 by 2035.”

Kenya dilemma in the health sector is multifaceted as the numbers graduating from local colleges are not matched with employment openings, which are diminishing. Foreign labour markets are therefore an option local employment agencies are cashing in on.

According to ReMar Review the United States of America currently needs 1.1 million trained nurses and it is looking to Africa to bridge the deficit. The country’s 50 states have varying needs for trained personnel, with some like California topping the deficit list with 44,500 nurses, Texas 15,900, New Jersey 11,400 and Alaska 5,400.

It is also projected that Australia will be the next in line of developed countries looking to Africa to bridge health-worker deficit as it had 85,000 nurses shortage as of January 2025 and the number is set surpass 123,000 by the end of 2025. Consequently, Africa will thus play a pivotal role in meeting the demand of skilled labour in the health industry in the US, Canada and Australia.

Texas, Alaska, New York and Kansas have been identified as the most favourable states for nurses to work and live in as a result of their favourable work environment for migrant workers.

The shortage of nurses in the US is due to high life expectancy due to efficient health services and food. High disease resistance has further complicated the need for skilled labour, is proving to be a welcome response to high unemployment in Kenya and Africa in general.

According to data, health issues that include heart diseases and stroke have been identified as leading causes of death for both men and women. Data collected and collated by leading hospitals show that heart diseases top with 702,800, accidents 227,000, stroke 165,393, chronic diseases 147,382 and diabetes 101 per annum.

The 2024 survey reveals that most patients have challenges of accessing healthcare due to high costs and skilled labour. In order to make healthcare more affordable, state and the national governments in the US are turning to affordable workforce from abroad – mainly African – to cut medical bills for patients.

Kenyan nurses, who have a global reputation for high professionalism and diligence expect to benefit from the growing openings in the US healthcare after Kenyan Nurses Consultant Limited – a professional organisation – started enrolling Kenyan youth for international nursing courses to prepare them for placement in US health facilities. This is after the US, Australia and Canada announced massive nursing job opportunities to be filled.

The ratio of nurses to patients in the United States ranges from 4.3 to 10.5 patients per nurse – a gaping range that has raised concerns and the desire to hire foreign nurses to narrow the deficit. The revelation has seen Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited enter a working partnership with St Elizabeth Medical and Technical College Mukumu in Kakamega County to meet the demand, where nurses wishing to work abroad will be registered, tested and certified to become US Registered Nurses (USRN).

The Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited recruitment manager Justice Justus broke news during an educational workshop at the Mukumu Nursing Training College on March 15, 2025. Justus encouraged learners who are eying to work outside the country to enrol in the programme in readiness for placement as a primary requirement for consideration for qualifying to be a United States registered nurse.

The manager said his organisation working in liaison with a professional health educator, mentor and author, Prof Regina Callion.

Prof Regina Callion is the owner and founder of the ReMar Review, which she uses to prepare learners for USA National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The virtual trainer, who is based in the United States, is set to transform the future of nursing education in Kenya through the introduction of NCLEX Virtual-Two Training Course.

The online training manual is tailor-made to assist and enable Kenyan nurses willing to work abroad sit and pass NCLEX examinations in six months, which enables them to qualify for United States Registered Nurse (USRN).

Prof Regina lauded efforts by the Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited is making to empower African nurses to embrace overseas nursing opportunities.

“We have partnered with Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited to make it is our life mission to train and educate Kenyan nurses willing to work abroad, and we have put everything in place – designed to build your confidence and give you the needed details on how to pass NCLEX,” says Prof Regina.

The consultant says that, through the ReMar Review NCLEX Virtual Trainer over 300,000 nurses have been trained and are assured of a pass rate of 99.2 per cent. Her commitment has zeroed in to specialised teaching of non-graduates, international students and repeat takers on how to pass NCLEX.

Her partnership with the Kenyan nurse is aimed to produce high qualified all round skilled nurses that can professionally execute their mandate under very minimal supervision.

“As Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited, which has stood out as ‘The future of nursing education’, we are working with a team of medical experts including the founder of ReMar Review Prof Regina Callion who is behind the six-month comprehensive NCLEX V2 training course for the nurses wishing to work abroad,” the consultants’ statement says.

To ensure they accommodate everyone, he added, plans been made to visit all the 47 counties with West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Vihiga and Kakamega already covered. According to the recruitment manager, the Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited trains the following healthcare professionals for international English Language Testing System (IELTS).

IELTS is a globally recognised English language proficiency test used for studying, working and migrating to English-speaking countries.

For one to become a United States Registered Nurse (USRN) one needs to have requisite educational and professional requirements, then apply after which they will undergo screening interview, issued with a contract, evaluation of credentials, NCLEX application, licensure application and registration and employment visa application.

At the same time for one to become a nurse in the US, they should have met the required educational requirements, submit prior credentials then take the English language proficiency test, be certified by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), ensure to pass the National Council Licensure Examination Real Nurse (NCLEX-RN) examination, then apply for nursing licence, find nursing job, then obtain visa.

Justus appealed to young people to consider taking nursing as their dream career as there was already a job market in the US.

He said, “This is your ground-breaking chance to join the ranks of highly competent international nurses and at Kenyan nurse we offer a unique opportunity for you to pursue a diploma or degree in nursing and our unified admissions process and personalised guidance will place your nursing career on the fast lane.

“As Kenyan nurses, we are an approved and authorised student recruitment agency for both overseas and local school admissions by the Commission for Higher Education. We guide our students right from the admission to a reputable nursing institutions and we will take you through the international transitional programmes and eventually assist them secure an overseas job as a qualified nurse.”

He noted that Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited have vast experience in international recruitment of nurses and English proficiency exams inclusive of training and booking and assured that they were the ideal partners to accompany you on your journey towards attaining a place in the international nursing career.

Marion Ogesa a locum nurse at St Elizabeth Mukumu who graduated in 2023 has been job hunting in several hospitals for two years without reliable pay. Ogesa now says through Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited is connecting nurses to world class training and had taken up the initiative to guide aspiring nurses to work abroad.

“I’m amazed by the clear-step-by-step process on what to expect as a Kenyan nurse. It is a well-defined admission pathway that gives students clarity on what to expect from start to finish. It also has a comprehensive student support programme provides mentorship, study resources and revision tools to learner’s success throughout their educational journey.

The St Elizabeth Medical and Training College manager Pamela Musinzi assured the students that with the Kenyan Nurse Consultants Limited they are guaranteed job opportunities once they complete their studies and obtain their nursing license as it also offers pathways to international opportunities, ensuring learners to acquire a strong return on their educational investment. 

• A Tell report / by Isaac Wakhungu Andanje