Kelele254

A Kenyan nurse based in Manchester, UK, has been named the National Health Service’s (NHS) “Employee of the Year” for the West Midlands region, becoming the first Kenyan national to win the award in the NHS’s 78-year history. Grace Njeri Kamau, 34, originally from Murang’a County, was recognised for her exceptional patient care and her initiative to set up a mental health support group for fellow African healthcare workers.

Grace’s Journey

Grace arrived in the UK in 2019 after training at Kenya Medical Training College in Thika. “I came here to build a better life for my family back home, but I also wanted to make a difference wherever I was,” she told Kelele254 in an exclusive interview. She now manages a ward of 28 patients and mentors newly arrived Kenyan and East African nurses navigating the NHS system.

The Mental Health Initiative

Grace’s award-winning project, “Ubuntu Wellness,” provides peer support for African healthcare workers dealing with the psychological pressures of NHS work, homesickness, and cultural adjustment. The group now has over 200 members across three UK cities.

Murang’a Celebrates

Back home, Grace’s family and former schoolmates erupted in celebration. Her mother, Mama Grace, told Kelele254 through tears: “We are so proud. She left here with nothing but a dream. Look at her now.”