By M, KNA
Kenya’s nursing professionals are set to benefit from enhanced training and international career opportunities following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association (KPNA) and KenyaNurse, a leading healthcare recruitment and training agency.
The partnership seeks to bridge the gap between the thousands of nurses trained locally each year and the limited opportunities available in the country, while simultaneously preparing them for global healthcare opportunities.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, KenyaNurse representatives highlighted the scale of the challenge claiming to train over 10,000 nurses annually through more than 164 institutions and only about 2,000 manage to be absorbed for internship locally.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenya Progressive Nurses Association, Edwin Simiyu, underscored the magnitude of the problem noting that despite Kenya’s inability to absorb all nursing graduates, the country’s high-quality training standards have made Kenyan nurses competitive worldwide.
“Our nurses excel globally. That is why we provide a bridge to support them to access opportunities abroad, where there is a global shortage of nurses,” explained Simiyu.
According to the CEO, the MOU focuses on several areas, including NCLEX training, clinical skills development, study-abroad referrals, mentorship, and diaspora engagement.
The NCLEX exam, he stressed, is a mandatory requirement for nurses seeking to work in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
He revealed that Kenya is currently home to one of only two NCLEX exam centres in Africa, located in Nairobi, making it a regional hub for candidates.
“In the past, nurses had to travel to South Africa or even India to sit for the NCLEX exam, which was costly. Now, the exam is easily accessible here,” Simiyu revealed.
Further, the CEO reported that the organisation has also partnered with the Nursing Council of Kenya to support nurses in preparing for the test, maintaining that the NCLEX is not a traditional paper exam but a computer-adaptive test.
“We have built a system to train nurses effectively so that they pass on the first attempt, as the exams are expensive,” he explained.
In addition, Simiyu highlighted that the MOU introduces accredited training in life-saving skills such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), sessions that will be conducted nationwide, reaching nurses even in remote areas.
“This training will not be limited to Nairobi or Mombasa. Whether in a small village or urban centre, nurses will have access to skills that save lives,” assured the CEO.
Additionally, he pointed out that the collaboration also opens doors for nurses seeking academic advancement, saying that through study-abroad referrals, diploma holders can progress to degree and master’s programmes, with some international universities offering faster completion timelines than local options.
At the same time, Simiyu cited mentorship as another critical area which ensures nurses are well guided on career prospects both locally and abroad.
“We are going to have career talks and mentorship sessions where nurses who have worked abroad will share their experiences. Information is power, and once nurses know the process, they can even pursue opportunities independently,” he remarked.
The CEO also highlighted that the partnership seeks to protect nurses from exploitation by unregulated agencies and that by working in a structured framework, KPNA and KenyaNurse aim to ensure transparent and fair processes for nurses pursuing overseas employment.
In his remarks, Michael Nyongesa, the KPNA president, emphasized the importance of accessibility stating that by having many branches, the Association wants to make it easier by ensuring maximum use of the NCLEX exam centre in the country.
This programme, according to Nyongesa, will reach all nurses, largely through digital platforms, regardless of geographical, ethnic or how remote the regions they come from.
The KPNA President added that the initiative would provide solutions for nurses who have been unable to secure employment locally.
“For those not properly absorbed, this is a solution. They can access training, improve their skills, and secure jobs abroad. We welcome all Kenyan nurses to embrace this opportunity,” he urged.
Notably, KenyaNurse has already facilitated more than 10,000 nurses to access global opportunities and employs over 50 staff through its programmes.
According to the agency, this ripple effect benefits many families by creating direct and indirect support systems.
The organization also runs a diaspora programme to connect nurses working abroad with their colleagues at home, an initiative that ensures those in the diaspora remain linked to local networks, supporting both professional development and community projects.
Likewise, senior officials expressed optimism that the collaboration would strengthen Kenya’s contribution to the global healthcare system.
“When nurses go abroad, we are not losing. We are gaining. They acquire new knowledge and bring it back to benefit the country,” assured Simiyu.
He maintained that the MOU takes effect immediately, with both parties confirming that systems are already in place for implementation.
“This is not a case of signing and then figuring out what to do next. The work has already begun. By joining hands, we can achieve more for our nurses and for the healthcare sector,” he declared.