NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has announced a policy shift that prioritises the licensing and deployment of qualified Kenyan health practitioners, tightening the routine entry of foreign doctors and other health professionals while retaining limited room for specialised foreign expertise.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the Ministry of Health will first consider Kenyan-trained doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and specialists before licensing foreign practitioners, citing national interest, workforce sustainability and patient safety.
“The Government has invested substantial public resources—drawn from Kenyan taxpayers—into training doctors, nurses, clinical officers and specialists at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels,” Duale said.
“It is therefore both prudent and just that Kenyans trained using public resources are given first priority to serve our country.”
The policy, effective immediately, is grounded in international labour and health standards, with the ministry citing guidance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which encourage countries to prioritise employment opportunities for their own qualified health workers as part of national workforce planning.
However, the ministry clarified that the new position does not apply to citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states.
Duale said Kenya remains committed to regional integration and will continue to honour reciprocal recognition agreements that allow for mutual recognition of qualifications and regulated professional mobility within the bloc.
“This policy does not apply to countries within the East African Community,” the statement said, seeking to allay concerns that the move could undermine regional cooperation or existing treaties.
Foreign health practitioners from outside the EAC will still be considered, but only on a case-by-case basis.
According to the ministry, priority will be given where there is a demonstrable skills gap—particularly in highly specialised or emerging fields where local capacity is limited—and where such engagement contributes to knowledge transfer and health system strengthening.
The ministry said the policy also responds to growing regulatory concerns, including cases where individuals seek registration to practise in Kenya despite lacking recognition, good standing, or proper licensing in their countries of origin.
“International regulatory norms, including guidance from WHO and global professional councils, require host countries to safeguard patient safety by preventing such practices and curbing professional misconduct,” Duale said.
Health sector stakeholders have in recent months raised alarm over the increasing number of foreign practitioners seeking to practise in Kenya amid high unemployment and underemployment among locally trained doctors and nurses, some of whom have staged protests over delayed postings and poor working conditions.
The ministry said it will continue working through statutory regulatory bodies to ensure all licensing decisions uphold patient safety, professional integrity, and national workforce sustainability, while remaining compliant with Kenyan law and international obligations.
“This approach is neither isolationist nor unique to Kenya,” Duale added. “Many countries—including high-income nations—apply similar policies that prioritise local professionals while allowing carefully regulated entry of foreign practitioners in exceptional circumstances.”
Kenya’s health sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, with increased enrolment in medical and nursing schools and significant public investment in training.
Yet absorption into the public health system has lagged, creating tensions between workforce supply and available opportunities.
In closing, the ministry said Kenya’s position is “clear, lawful and globally aligned,” stressing that qualified Kenyans must come first, regional commitments will be respected, and foreign engagement will only be permitted where it adds clear value to the country’s health system and meets the highest ethical and professional standards.
