Kenya’s healthcare system is under strain as skilled nurses continue to leave in large numbers, worsening the staff shortage at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Severe Nurse Shortage Hits Eldoret’s Leading Hospital
The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), one of Kenya’s premier public health institutions, is grappling with a critical shortage of experienced nurses. Driven by the lure of better pay and improved working conditions overseas, many nurses are relocating to the United Kingdom, United States, and Gulf nations.
The facility currently has a nurse deficit of nearly 1,000, a figure that continues to grow annually, according to MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa.
Alarm Bells: 60 to 100 Nurses Leave MTRH Each Year
Dr. Kirwa revealed that between 60 and 100 nurses resign each year from MTRH, contributing to a staffing crisis that severely affects patient care. “The mass departure of skilled nurses to countries like the US and UK has significantly disrupted our service delivery,” he stated. “Our efforts are further hindered by limited funding from the National Treasury.”
Currently, the hospital employs about 4,500 nurses, but many are already in various stages of preparing to emigrate.
Call for Immediate Government Intervention
Dr. Kirwa has urged the national government to increase support for nurse recruitment and retention, warning that without urgent action, the quality of healthcare services in Kenya will continue to deteriorate.
“Unless we improve the welfare and working environment of our nurses, we’ll keep losing them to international markets,” he cautioned.
A National Healthcare Crisis in the Making
This crisis at MTRH mirrors a nationwide brain drain. The Nursing Council of Kenya reports that over 800 nurses emigrate annually, mainly to the UK and US. The financial toll is massive—training a nurse from primary school through college is estimated at $43,180, while the economic value lost per migrating nurse is nearly $339,000.
Balancing Global Opportunities and Local Needs
In 2021, Kenya signed a bilateral agreement with the UK to send 20,000 nurses abroad. While this addresses unemployment, health experts warn that it may weaken domestic healthcare systems further.
Stakeholders now call for a balanced strategy—one that creates opportunities abroad without undermining Kenya’s healthcare capacity.
The Way Forward for MTRH and Kenya
The growing nurse shortage in Eldoret is a wake-up call for urgent reforms. By improving salaries, working conditions, and career growth within Kenya, the government can help retain talent and ensure hospitals like MTRH continue delivering quality care.
