Thirteen Kenyan nurses have got an opportunity to work in the United Kingdom and the medics are beneficiaries of a bilateral agreement signed by the Kenya and UK government.
Last year cabinet secretary of labor Simon chelugi said it would send 20000 nurses to the UK in order to improve welfare of its migrant workers overseas. A recruitment exercise was done only when 10 out of 300 nurses passed English language tests and yet the government said 13 nurses had passed the test and were ready to work in the UK.
While speaking during a meeting to see the 13 nurses off, health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe stated that Italy and Kuwait have also expressed their interests to have nurses sent to their countries. He also noted that the ministry is building the health workforce with a focus on health promotions which will enable the nurses to back as entrepreneurs to create more job opportunities locally.
Mutahi kagwe assured Kenyans that the cohorts have been trained and well prepared so that they can achieve the scores they needed and all candidates chosen have the language ability to be productive in their destination to the country. Two nurses each were picked from Vihiga and Kirinyaga while each one was picked from Busia, Kisii, Murang’a, Marsabit, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Migori and Siaya counties.
BY FAITH MUKHWANA