Kenyans ditch other professions for nursing assistant courses

“I want to make a difference in people’s lives and society at large. And for my job stability too,” she says, adding that she had always dreamed of working abroad since her primary school days.

Her story is far from unique. In recent years, CNA courses, once viewed as low-tier, supplementary healthcare training, have witnessed an unprecedented boom across Kenya.

Young Kenyans, motivated by the lure of global opportunities, especially in the US and the UK, better pay, and job stability, are flocking to caregiver and nursing assistant programmes in droves. Many are ditching careers in hospitality, teaching, cosmetology, or informal work. What connects them is a shared goal. A sure path to meaningful employment.

But even as enrolment surges, a warning looms. Colleges offering the courses are mushrooming, mostly unregulated, offering training for as short as two months and charging between Sh40,000 and Sh100,000.

In a memo dated April 18, 2025, the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) issued a clear statement: Nurse aide, nurse assistant, and certified nurse assistant courses are not recognised in Kenya, as they do not meet the country’s required training standards.

“Any course offered without NCK’s approval is not recognised,” the memo read.

The council reminded the public that it is the only legal authority mandated to regulate nursing and midwifery training programmes and institutions within Kenya. Yet, that warning seems to have done little to slow the momentum.

Alfred Obengo, a former council member of the NCK who was involved in reviewing CNA programmes tells the BDLife, “NCK only regulates nurses and midwives in Kenya. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) regulates the patient attendants or health assistants doing the non-scientific duties in the hospital.”

Mr Obengo expresses concern that the mushrooming of private institutions offering unaccredited CNA courses may ultimately jeopardise patient safety and professional integrity, especially if graduates are deployed into hospitals.

“The problem is we have mushrooming hospitals that employ health assistants for easy maintenance with low salaries,” he says.

“When they engage in any health malpractices it is difficult for them to defend themselves as they are not registered under any medical carders such as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union,” he adds.

According to Mr Obengo, many students wrongly assume that completing a CNA course gives them a direct ticket to a nursing career or a job overseas.

For thousands who continue to pursue CNA and caregiver training, the opportunities, especially abroad are well worth the investment.

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Ricky Martin, 24, is among them. He left a budding hospitality career and now studies CNA in Nairobi.

“I worked in the hospitality sector for a few months, but I fell in love with the nursing aide course so I decided to go back to class,” he says.

Mr Martin, who also co-founded a community-based health organisation in Nairobi’s Korogocho, believes CNA training will enhance his ability to serve his community while also positioning him for international opportunities.

“It was going hand in hand with my passion,” he adds.

Tabitha Kilonzo has already navigated the transition to a CNA and secured a job overseas. She was a teacher before she ditched the profession to become a nursing assistant.

The 28-year-old started her CNA journey in 2023 December in UAE, Dubai. She paid 2,800 dirhams (Sh98,6500) for the course, which took two months for her to complete.

“I did my research and I found a good school here in Dubai,” she tells the BDLife.

Ms Kilonzo says there are better opportunities in healthcare, and she now works six to seven hours a day.

“Besides UAE, there are many opportunities available in Europe, and Asia, especially Philippines as well. I am happy where I am now. With my monthly salary of 5,000 AED (Sh176,000), I can manage myself well,” she says.

Kenya struck a deal to send nurses to work in the UK under the Kenya-UK bilateral health workforce, released by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and the Ministry of Health. Global agencies have also been recruiting directly from Kenya and this gives many hope.

But not everyone has a smooth ride. Susan Ann Wanjiru, 19, enrolled in a CNA programme straight out of high school after scoring a KCSE mean grade of D+. Her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when she realised the institution she had joined was unregistered and ill-equipped.

“The first institution I went to was suspicious. I had paid Sh50,000 for the one-and-a-half course only to realise the school was not registered,” she says. “There wasn’t any progress. The labs were not equipped with enough learning materials. I quit after three months.”

She later joined Steps Healthcare Training Institute, a newer school accredited under TVET, and graduated. Unlike many graduates who are staring at unemployment, Ms Wanjiru says she is optimistic that a nursing aide training will open doors.

“I have seen my former classmates get jobs even overseas —a clear indication that employment is available. I also believe that I will land a job shortly,” she says.

Her story underscores the growing need from students and parents. Today, more than 30 public and private institutions in Kenya offer CNA or caregiver training, many under TVET institutions, the National Industrial Training Authority (Nita), and the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (Khpoa).

One such institution is First American Health Institute. According to Derick Otwori, the registrar, the institution has had exponential growth. From 215 students in 2018, the CNA programme saw 297 graduates in 2024, with 321 students currently enrolled.

“We have a partnership with Kacey Staffing Agency taking interested CNA students in the US with 10 students so far. The CNAs are needed in large numbers to take care of patients with lifestyle diseases and non-communicable diseases. We can’t have degree or diploma nurses doing that.”

The principal designate, Caroline Gatwiri, says they have also had to expand their curriculum to match international standards.

“We saw that taking the course for only two weeks was not ideal, especially because it entails dealing with human life. The course now takes six months.”

Steps Healthcare Training Institute, which received TVET accreditation in 2024, has also seen the number of students increase. With 28 students graduating and 15 more enrolled this year.

“As far as people are travelling out of the country to go practice elsewhere, each country has its own regulations,” says Emily Kariuki, a director.

She adds that while CNA work can offer financial rewards, passion and a sense of calling are non-negotiable.

“Nursing is not that kind of work that you go for money. It is a calling,” she says.

The demand for nursing assistants is not only a developed market trend. As Kenya transitions toward outpatient care, community-based support, and home-based nursing, the demand for entry-level caregivers is also growing.

Graduates from CNA courses are increasingly being placed in roles focused on dementia care, palliative support, paediatric care, and chronic illness management.

CNA is also a stepping stone to more advanced healthcare roles, with graduates going on to pursue diplomas in nursing, community health, or specialised fields.

Yet, regulatory clarity remains a missing link. “There is need to create and come up with regulations, especially within the private sector, to regulate the courses,” says Mr Obengo.

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