Brain Drain And Its Contribution To Globalization And Economic Development In Kenya
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Date
2015Author
Wanjohi, Patriciah M
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
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Brain Drain is generally not a new phenomenon in developing countries. It has been
known to rob developing nations of their professionals to the developed world. This
research paper aimed at examining the issue of human capital flight or brain drain, and its
contribution to globalization and economic development in Kenya. The study examined
the African medical brain drain case and Kenya to be specific. The paper further assessed
the magnitude, intensity and determinants of the brain drain showing that this form of
human capital flight is becoming a dominant pattern of international migration and a
major aspect of globalization and economic development. The study sort to determine
what kind of effects that brain drain has on the developing economies in the African
continent, with special focus to Kenya whether positive or negative. The study aimed at
assessing the losses that Kenya incurs from brain drain in the medical sector. The study
considered the cost incurred in training a medical sector from Primary School all the way
to Medical school and compared that to the return on investment for the economy. The
findings showed that Kenya has been on the losing end for many years as it has been
unable to retain its medical professionals with rich countries gaining due to the
favourable employment terms in these nations. This being the findings of just the
medical brain drain, it would go without saying that any form of brain drain is not
good for any developing economy like Kenya. The disadvantages by far outweighs the
gains that may result . This study harmonizes with other studies done in Kenya, that
brain drain is a phenomenon that should not be encouraged by developing economies
in Africa. If Kenya is to meet the rising human resource need, it must strive to
discourage any form of brain drain and focus on retaining its skilled young professional
at all costs. The retaining of these professionals will ensure that the economy grows,
and that the country does not have to import labour to meet the human resource need. It
will further help in reducing the unemployment levels in the country. Employing its own
professionals would further reduce the operating costs for the country as employing
local labour is always cheaper than imported labour. Based on present evidence
Kenya has experienced significant brain drain and waste. According to a report by
World Health Organization (WHO) more than 4 million additional health professional
are urgently needed in 57 countries, 36 of which are sub-Saharan Africa (World Health
Organization , 2006). This report states that not enough health workers have been trained
or recruited where they are most needed. Moreover, an increasing number are joining a
brain drain of qualified professionals who are migrating to better paid jobs in rich
countries. There are several reasons why this paper focuses at the Kenyan case. First,
the Kenyan population abroad is one of the top ten among African countries and is
therefore a significant population to consider. Second, there is anecdotal evidence that
most Kenyan migrants experience brain drain in developed countries. This claim is
disturbing and creates extra interest in looking at Kenya specifically. Kenya is also a
good county to focus on because of its government in its Diaspora and the express
interest of the network of Kenyans abroad in development efforts in Kenya.
Furthermore, Kenya is the regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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