Beyond Salary: Why Kenyan Nurses Are Migrating Abroad
Kenyan nurses are increasingly seeking work abroad because retirement policies in Kenya limit most public servants to leaving service at 60, even when they are still able to work.
Many nurses say the retirement age has become as important as salary when considering overseas opportunities. Under Kenya’s public service rules, most civil servants, including nurses, must retire at 60. Persons with disabilities may remain in service until 65, while some specialists can receive short-term contract extensions after retirement.
In several countries recruiting foreign healthcare workers, nurses are allowed to continue practising into their late 60s or 70s if they remain medically fit and maintain their licences. This difference is influencing many Kenyan nurses who fear being forced to leave the profession while they still have the capacity to work.
Kenyan nurses working overseas say the approach in other countries has changed their outlook on long-term careers. A nurse in the United Kingdom said experience is valued more than age, while another in Canada said nurses in their seventies often mentor younger colleagues and work flexible schedules.
Many see these systems as offering not only financial security but also professional respect and longer careers. Kenya’s growing number of nursing graduates has added to the movement abroad.
In 2026, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said more than 22,000 students had graduated from the Kenya Medical Training College in a single cohort. With limited opportunities locally, many graduates are pursuing jobs overseas.
The United Kingdom has become a major destination after labour agreements with Kenya aimed to facilitate the recruitment of nurses. Kenya had initially planned to deploy up to 20,000 nurses to the UK by 2025, although administrative delays slowed the programme.
Germany has also increased cooperation with Kenya, expanding programmes in 2025 that provide language training and specialised preparation for healthcare placements. Many nurses say financial pressures are part of their decision to leave.
Some fear reaching retirement age while still paying loans, school fees, and supporting relatives. Others are concerned about losing a profession that has shaped much of their lives. A nurse working in the United States said countries that allow nurses to work longer offer hope that careers do not have to end abruptly because of age.
International demand for nurses continues to grow. Data from the OECD showed that by 2023, more than 800,000 foreign-trained nurses were working across its 38 member states, marking a significant increase over the past decade. Experts expect Africa to remain a major source of healthcare workers as populations in Europe and North America continue to age.
However, working abroad also presents difficulties. Migrant nurses in the UK have reported burnout, racism, and increasing immigration pressures. The Royal College of Nursing has warned that stress levels among foreign healthcare workers are rising.