How Kenyan nurses can apply for jobs in Saudi Arabia

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha flanked by PS for Public Health Mary Muriuki. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya's Ministry of Health has issued guidelines on how nurses of different cadres can apply for jobs in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Friday, 19 January, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muriuki, listed the requirements for those interested in filling the 2,500 jobs.

The announcement follows an agreement between President William Ruto and the Abdal Human Resource Company in Riyadh, the designated recruitment agency in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Kenyan nurses who wish to work in Saudi Arabia will require the following to be successful:

A complete CV detailing their age, weight, and height

A full record of the applicant's educational background, including verified copies of diploma certificates and nursing degrees.

A valid nursing council license certificate,

A certificate demonstrating work experience acquired after passing licensing examinations and additional certifications for any medical training undertaken including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

Records of any attended symposiums and a copy of the applicant's passport if available.

The Health Ministry also highlighted that it has settled on two recruiting agencies to conduct the process.

"Following a thorough and competitive evaluation, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has identified that Fast Reliable Enterprises and Nasmama Services Limited have been selected based on their outstanding track record and capacity to ensure appropriate matching of skills with requirement."

At the same time, the government assured Kenyans of their safety while working in foreign land, adding that the shortlisted recruits will be informed of the interview dates and those successful will receive pre-deployment training and facilitation in processing their travel documents.

"This initiative not only attests to the global recognition of the Kenyan healthcare workforce but also serves as a bridge to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Kenya and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the PS added.

Applicants are encouraged to liaise directly with the nominated agencies for further information regarding the application process or to visit the National Employment Agency (NEA) website.