A doctor taking down notes./Photo courtesy
Kenya has made significant strides in producing health workers over the past decade, doubling the number of nurses, doctors, and other health professionals.
Yet, a recent Health Labour Market Analysis highlights persistent gaps: by 2031, the country will need more than 114,000 additional health professionals across 31 roles to meet the population’s health needs.
To address this challenge, WHO Kenya has partnered with the Novo Nordisk Foundation under the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals programme.
The collaboration aims to strengthen the capacity, quality, and relevance of Kenya’s health workforce in line with the country’s Universal Health Coverage goals.
Bridging the Gap Between Training and Health Needs
Over the past five years, WHO has supported the Ministry of Health in Kenya to align workforce planning with population health needs, translating evidence into policy reforms and strategic investments.
Last year, WHO AFRO launched the prototype competency-based curricula for 10 key health cadres, including critical care nurses, general surgeons, and community health workers.
Dr. Anne Mukuna, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya, welcomed the partnership.
“This collaboration will strengthen regulatory oversight by ensuring the core curriculum is competency-based, equipping future nurses with the skills required for safe and effective practice,” she said.
Competency-Based Education at the Core
The partnership focuses on transforming health professions education through competency-based approaches, preparing health workers to prevent, detect, and manage priority health conditions effectively.
Initiatives include curriculum reform, aligning training outputs with service delivery needs, and strengthening governance, coordination, and financing mechanisms across the health workforce education ecosystem.
Joel Masiaga, President of the Association of Medical Students at the University of Nairobi, praised the approach:
“What I appreciate about the competency-based model is that we are assessed on whether we can actually do something, not just whether we can write about it in an exam. That’s what patients need from us.”
Evalyne Chagina, Health Workforce Technical Lead at WHO Kenya, emphasized the strategic importance:
“Investment in health workforce education is critical to ensuring that Kenya produces confident, competent, and labour-market-ready professionals. The focus extends beyond increasing numbers to equipping workers with the right skills for the communities they serve.”
Looking Ahead
By developing a skilled and responsive health workforce, the partnership seeks to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage, improve the quality of care, and strengthen Kenya’s health system resilience.
Through aligning training with real-world health needs, the initiative aims to ensure that Kenya not only increases the number of health professionals but also produces highly capable, community-focused practitioners who can meet the evolving demands of the population.
“Competency-based education ensures our health workers are prepared to address real health challenges communities face, from preventing and managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease to delivering quality care at every level. This partnership with the Novo Nordisk Foundation helps us bridge the gap between training and population health needs,” Dr. Neema Kimambo, WHO Acting Representative to Kenya.
