Medical Staff Shortage Hits Rural Health Facilities

Health experts are raising the alarm over severe staffing gaps in rural Kenya, warning that many county‑level health centres lack sufficient medical personnel to serve their communities effectively. According to a capacity study, only 11.1% of rural health facilities meet established staffing norms — a figure that underscores a chronic inequality in service provision between rural and urban areas.
The shortage is being felt acutely across the country. In Kilifi County, for instance, fewer than half of the required nurses are employed, forcing existing staff to juggle multiple roles and work extended hours just to keep rural facilities open. Meanwhile, in Elgeyo Marakwet, 32 rural health facilities reportedly remain under‑staffed — some with only a single nurse on duty — putting pressure on local hospitals and compromising healthcare delivery.
Healthcare workers’ unions are calling on county governments to fast-track recruitment. In Homa Bay County, medical workers have petitioned local authorities to hire hundreds of additional personnel, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and public‑health officers, to relieve overworked staff and improve patient care.
Policy analysts say the lack of staff in rural facilities undermines Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals. While more facilities have been built, many remain under‑resourced in terms of human capital. They argue that to reverse this trend, Kenya must invest in incentives for rural deployment, improve working conditions, and ensure long-term retention of healthcare workers in underserved areas.