“Kenya is an East African country with a more recent history of emigration. The early emigration patterns of Kenyans began in the late 1950s where migration was primarily for educational purposes for citizens to train overseas and return home to develop the country. A closer study of emigration from Kenya reveals four waves since the mid-20th century: (1950-1960)First Wave: After the Second World War, an anti-colonialism climate was sweeping across Kenya which encouraged Kenyans to embrace self determination. (1970-1980) Second Wave: After the birth of the new Kenyan nation as an independent state in 1963, Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta embarked on a mission to educate Kenyans abroad by making government funding available for young students to acquire skills training for jobs in Kenya that would allow for the economic, social and structural development of the country. (1990-2000)Third Wave: Emigration during this period was mostly the result of political, economic, environmental and social factors that pushed low, middle and highly skilled Kenyans to migrate to countries that offered them better opportunities. Third Wave: Emigration during this period was mostly the result of political, economic, environmental and social factors that pushed low, middle and highly skilled Kenyans to migrate to countries that offered them better opportunities. Third Wave: Emigration during this period was mostly the result of political,economic, environmental and social factors that pushed low, middle and highly skilled Kenyans to migrate to countries that offered them better opportunities. (2000 to Present) Fourth Wave: From 2000, Kenya has lost a significant number of professionals,especially in the medical sector (e.g. nurses, doctors and academics). Shitundu’s (2006) study revealed that there are only 600 doctors in Kenya, whilst 6,000 Kenyan trained doctors have emigrated to the United States, the UK, Canada and Australia.”
