Minnesota lawmaker Huldah Momanyi pushes for Kenya-US Healthcare partnership to open jobs for Kenyan nurses

Kenyan-born Minnesota House of Representatives member Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley is championing a partnership between Kenya and Minnesota, United States, aimed at creating international career opportunities for Kenyan healthcare professionals while helping address Minnesota’s growing nursing workforce shortage.

Momanyi on Wednesday led a Minnesota healthcare delegation organised by LeadingAge Minnesota on a visit to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Nairobi to explore potential areas of collaboration with the institution.

During the visit, the delegation toured KMTC’s Nursing Department and training facilities, engaged lecturers in discussions and interacted with students to understand their aspirations and the opportunities and challenges facing nursing education.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, and Minnesota State Representative Hon. Huldah Momanyi at Afya House

The team discussions centred on creating pathways for qualified Kenyan nurses to pursue employment opportunities in Minnesota, which is projected to face a shortage of more than 30,000 nurses by 2030. The delegation also explored opportunities for Kenyan students to access nursing education and training at universities in Minnesota.

Momanyi emphasised that while opening international career opportunities for Kenyan healthcare professionals was important, strengthening Kenya’s healthcare and education systems must remain a key priority in the proposed partnership.

She said potential areas of collaboration could include sharing digital learning resources, facilitating faculty exchanges and upgrading equipment and technology in existing skills laboratories, depending on KMTC’s priorities.

“I also want us to make it easier for Kenyan nurses in the diaspora to share what they’ve learned abroad through mentorship and teaching in Kenya,” she said.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call to Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services, where discussions focused on strengthening healthcare cooperation between Kenya and Minnesota.

Dr Oluga emphasised the need to ensure that Kenya’s interests remain central to international healthcare workforce partnerships, noting the importance of mutually beneficial arrangements.

The discussions explored potential collaboration in workforce training, specialised skills development, professional exchanges and care for older adults, with both sides sharing a commitment to promoting dignified ageing and improving healthcare delivery.

As part of her visit, Momanyi also toured Centrum Berliner Hospital in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, where she commended the facility for its contribution to healthcare delivery and service provision to the local community.

She praised the hospital's founder and managing director Roisa Kerry for investing in the healthcare sector, noting that such initiatives are critical at a time when access to quality and affordable medical services remains a challenge in many communities.

Momanyi said the hospital was an example of how Kenyans could make a meaningful difference by investing in their home country, urging the local communities to consider supporting similar initiatives.

She called for stronger partnerships between healthcare institutions, investors and communities to help facilities acquire modern equipment improve services and expand access to quality medical care.

“You can make a difference where you are. We should support each other,” she said, challenging community members to work together in strengthening the country's healthcare sector.

On her part, Roisa said the hospital had invested in modern medical equipment and technology to enhance service delivery and improve patient outcomes.

She highlighted the facility's portable X ray technology, which allows radiographic images to be accessed remotely, enabling specialists based abroad to interpret scans and provide support to medical teams in Kenya.

Roisa noted that Kenya has some of the most qualified nurses, whose professional expertise has earned them recognition and employment opportunities internationally.

She called for increased local and international partnerships to strengthen healthcare services, improve medical infrastructure and support the development of healthcare professionals.

The director added that the hospital had established partnerships with various local and international organisations as part of its efforts to improve healthcare delivery and expand access to specialised services.

Momanyi Hiltsley made history after being elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2024, becoming the first Kenyan American to serve in the state legislature and the first Kenyan-born immigrant to be elected to a state legislature in the United States.

A member of the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party, she has used her public leadership platform to advance issues affecting communities in Minnesota while maintaining strong connections with her Kenyan roots.