County Hospitals Grapple with Shortage of Health Workers

County hospitals across Kenya are facing a deepening crisis as health facilities struggle to fill critical staffing gaps. The Senate Health Committee recently raised the alarm about severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and clinical officers in public hospitals, warning that the shortfall is undermining essential healthcare delivery. In Homa Bay County, health workers’ unions have publicly appealed for the hiring of more than 500 nurses, 15 doctors, 180 lab technicians, 300 public health officers, and 100 nutritionists to relieve the burden on overworked staff.
The shortage issue is not isolated to one region. Trans Nzoia County, for example, is reportedly short of 900 nurses, a gap that county officials say is seriously affecting service quality in its hospitals. According to a recent Health Labour Market Analysis by the WHO, up to 73% of needed health‑worker positions in public health facilities remain unfunded — a shortfall largely blamed on financial constraints and limited county recruitment capacity. Meanwhile, an Auditor-General’s report covering 126 county-level hospitals revealed that Level 5 hospitals are particularly understaffed: they are operating with over 1,200 fewer critical medical professionals than required.
The impact of the staffing crisis is already being felt by patients and staff alike. Overworked health workers report burnout and low morale, while patients face longer waiting times and sometimes reduced quality of care. Meanwhile, county leaders and health unions are calling for urgent action — including faster recruitment, better budgeting for health workforce needs, and improved retention strategies. As devolution places responsibility for healthcare largely on county governments, analysts warn that without deliberate investment in human resources for health, the capacity of county hospitals to provide effective care will continue to erode.