As Kenya
continues to grapple with rising numbers of unemployed health workers, Thika
School of Medical and Health Sciences is shifting its focus outward, aiming to
train nurses and other medical professionals for jobs outside the country.
The private
institution, based in Thika town, says it is working with consultants to align
its training with labour needs in countries like Germany and Australia, where
there is demand for healthcare workers.
Administrators say this plan is part of their
effort to match the government’s push to export skilled labour, but also a
response to the country’s saturated health job market.
"We’re
looking at how to prepare our students for international opportunities,” said
Ranjeet Gupta, the school’s administrator.
“We want to offer overseas training for our
nurses to increase their chances of getting jobs abroad.”
The move
comes at a time when Kenyan-trained nurses face limited absorption into the
local health system, with many struggling to find jobs after graduation.
The
institution, which has operated for 17 years and runs campuses in Nairobi,
Mombasa, Kisumu, and Kitui, is also eyeing expansion into neighbouring East
African countries.
Gupta
confirmed that setting up a satellite campus outside Kenya is part of their
growth plan.
Principal
Ann Kimani said the school has adopted the government-backed Competency-Based
Education and Training (CBET) system to make students more competitive.
She added
that the institution works with hospitals in Kiambu County to place students in
clinical rotations, though these partnerships often serve more as temporary
relief to overstretched facilities rather than long-term employment pipelines.
“The
students are trained to fit into the market, but the reality is that
opportunities remain limited here,” Kimani said.
While the
school recently received a cash prize from Equity Bank after winning in a drama
competition, students are looking beyond symbolic victories.
One student,
Nelly Sitei, said training for overseas markets is a practical move.
“There are
no jobs here,” she said. “If this can help us go abroad and work, then it’s a
good thing.”
