Machakos Nurses in a Walk to celebrate the Nurses Week on May 6, 2026. Photo by Virginia Siebella. 
By Virginia Siebella.
Nurses in Kenya have raised concern over a growing shortage of healthcare workers, warning that the situation is increasingly affecting the delivery of medical services across the country.
National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) President Collins Otieno said training institutions such as KMTC are already overwhelmed, cautioning that within the next two years, aspiring nurses may find it even harder to secure admission and pursue their careers.
Speaking in Machakos during the Nurses Week celebrations, Otieno criticized the Council of Governors for delays in approving the recruitment of nurses, despite more than 10,000 graduates entering the job market annually.
NNAK Deputy President Dennis Mbithi called on the government to fully implement the 2017 return-to-work agreement to address the recurring strikes that have disrupted healthcare services. He also urged authorities to operationalize a clear promotion structure, noting that many nurses have stagnated in the same job groups for up to a decade.
Machakos NNAK Chairperson Catherine Mutinda emphasized the urgent need to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), arguing that nurses carry the bulk of responsibilities in hospitals.
Meanwhile, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti assured nurses who have not been promoted for a long time that her administration is working to address their concerns, including salary increments and career progression opportunities in the near future.
