A once-promising pathway for Kenyan nurses to work in the United Kingdom is rapidly narrowing, as new data reveals a dramatic collapse in the number of overseas healthcare workers joining the British health system. The sharp decline is being attributed to rising racism and unwelcoming changes to UK's immigration policies.

This development deals a significant blow to thousands of Kenyan health professionals who have viewed the UK as a prime destination for career growth and economic opportunity. For many families, remittances from relatives working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) are a crucial lifeline.

According to the UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the number of overseas nurses and midwives who registered to practice between April and September was just 6,321, a staggering 50% drop from the 12,534 who registered in the same period in 2024. Health experts warn this trend will inevitably strain the already understaffed NHS and lengthen patient waiting times.

A Chilling Environment

For years, a bilateral agreement has facilitated the recruitment of Kenyan nurses to the UK, a programme intended to benefit both nations by addressing workforce shortages in Britain while providing jobs for unemployed Kenyan medics. However, NHS staff groups and unions now point to a rising tide of hostility towards migrants as a key factor deterring foreign workers.

Reports from as recently as October 2025 indicated a 55% rise in racist incidents against nurses over three years, with the Royal College of Nursing urging the government to temper anti-migrant rhetoric. One expert noted that some international recruits have shared "troubling stories" of racism and discrimination during their initial months in the UK.

• Drastic Drop: New foreign nurse registrations halved in a six-month period compared to the previous year.
• Kenyan Contingent: At least 894 Kenyans are already working across all roles in the NHS, making them the 30th largest nationality group.
• Policy Shift: The UK government has doubled the waiting time for many overseas workers to apply for indefinite leave to remain from five to 10 years.

Tighter Rules, Fewer Opportunities

The challenging social climate is compounded by stricter government immigration rules. In a significant policy shift, the Labour government has extended the period many overseas workers must wait before they can apply for permanent settlement or claim benefits. Suzie Bailey, a workforce expert at the King’s Fund thinktank, stated the dramatic fall in international recruitment "should be sounding alarm bells for politicians, health and care leaders."

This sentiment was echoed by Paul Rees, the NMC's chief executive, who declared that "the high-growth era of international recruitment appears to be ending." While the UK insists the Health and Care Worker visa remains open for professionals like nurses and doctors, the broader policy changes and social atmosphere are clearly having a chilling effect.

As this vital door to the UK appears to be closing, thousands of skilled Kenyan nurses now face an uncertain future, prompting a potential re-evaluation of career paths that have long been intertwined with the promise of working abroad.