Nursing Jobs in Kenya: Where to Apply and What They Pay
Updated 2026-11-10
Nurses are the largest group of health workers Kenyan employers hire, and most public nursing posts are now county jobs. This guide covers where nursing vacancies are actually advertised, what each nursing grade pays in public service (from current official adverts), what employers check before they hire you, and the route abroad if that is your plan.
Public nursing recruitment is free. County boards, the Ministry of Health and national referral hospitals never charge application or "placement" fees. Anyone asking for money to secure a nursing post is defrauding you.
Where nursing jobs in Kenya are advertised
County governments are the biggest employer of nurses. Each of the 47 County Public Service Boards advertises on its own website or recruitment portal and in the newspapers. Kitui’s October 2026 advert, for example, recruited enrolled nurses, registered nurses and nursing officers together. See how county recruitment works.
National referral hospitals and the Ministry of Health: Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Ministry advertise on their own careers pages.
Private and faith-based hospitals advertise on their websites and job boards, often for specialised units (theatre, ICU, renal, oncology).
NGOs and international organisations hire nurses for programmes and field hospitals, especially in northern Kenya and the refugee camps.
Every open nursing post the board can verify against an official advert is listed in healthcare jobs, updated daily.
Nursing job groups in Kenya and their salaries
County nursing posts are graded on the CPSB scale, which replaced the old letter Job Groups (the advert usually prints both). These are the monthly basic salary scales Kitui County Public Service Board stated in its October 2026 nursing advert:
Post (entry grade)
Grade
Basic salary per month
Enrolled Nurse III
CPSB 12 (Job Group G)
KSh 25,420 - 33,170
Registered Nurse III
CPSB 11 (Job Group H)
KSh 28,620 - 37,100
Nursing Officer
CPSB 9 (Job Group K)
KSh 41,420 - 57,230
You enter at the bottom of the scale and move up by annual increments. House allowance and other allowances are paid on top of basic salary and vary by county and duty station. The same CPSB scale applies in every county, so these figures are a reliable benchmark. Every grade, with links to the official adverts, is on the CPSB salary scales page.
What employers require
A nursing qualification: a certificate (enrolled nurse), a Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN) or a BSc in Nursing. Senior and specialist posts ask for a higher diploma in a specialty (critical care, theatre, midwifery, paediatrics).
Experience in years, stated per grade. Entry grades ask for none beyond registration; nursing officer and senior posts ask for years of service at the grade below.
Chapter Six documents for public posts: KRA, HELB, CRB, EACC clearance and a Certificate of Good Conduct. Most boards ask for them at interview, but they take weeks, so start early. Here is how.
How to apply for nursing jobs
Apply only through the channel the advert names: the county’s recruitment portal, or a hand-delivered or posted application addressed to the board secretary. Late or wrongly labelled applications are not read.
Match your CV to the advert’s exact requirements, grade by grade, and attach your NCK registration and current licence. Use this CV guide and application letter guide.
Watch several counties at once. County nursing recruitment comes in waves, and you can apply outside your home county.
Nursing jobs abroad
Kenyan nurses are recruited by the UK NHS, Gulf hospitals and US employers. Each route has its own licensing exam: the NMC route for the UK, NCLEX for the US and Gulf licensing explained in nursing jobs in the Gulf. UK roles that state visa sponsorship are listed on the board as they open.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nurses earn in Kenya?
In county public service, from KSh 25,420 a month for an Enrolled Nurse III (CPSB 12) to KSh 57,230 at the top of the Nursing Officer scale (CPSB 9), basic salary, per Kitui County’s October 2026 advert. Allowances are paid on top. Private hospital pay varies by employer and specialty.
Which job group is a registered nurse in Kenya?
A Registered Nurse III enters county service at CPSB 11, the former Job Group H, and a Nursing Officer at CPSB 9 (Job Group K). Enrolled nurses enter at CPSB 12 (Job Group G).
Where can I find nursing jobs in Kenya today?
County Public Service Board websites and portals, the Ministry of Health and referral hospital careers pages, and private hospital sites. The board lists every verified open nursing post under healthcare jobs, with a link to the official advert.
Do I need an NCK licence to apply for nursing jobs?
Yes. Employers require registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya and a current practising licence, and they verify both before hiring.
Do I have to pay to get a county nursing job?
No. Public recruitment is free and county boards do not use agents. Report anyone selling nursing posts to the DCI.