Kenyan Nurse in UK Heroically Saves Colleague's Life During Shift, But Faces Backlash Over NHS Pay Demands

Country: United Kingdom
Date Published: December 7, 2025

A Kenyan nurse working in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) has become the center of a viral X (formerly Twitter) storm after sharing a dramatic video of her performing CPR on a collapsing colleague during a night shift at a London hospital. Posted by verified influencer and diaspora advocate @DianaMashaka on December 7, the clip quickly amassed over 500,000 views, with users hailing her as a "true hero" and "Kenyatta University pride." The post, which included footage of the tense moments in the hospital corridor, ignited widespread praise from Kenyans abroad and at home, trending under #KenyanNurseUK and #NHSHeroes.

The nurse, identified in the thread as Mercy Wanjiku from Nairobi, credited her quick thinking to training received back in Kenya before migrating to the UK two years ago. Replies poured in from fellow Kenyan healthcare workers in the diaspora, with @UKKenyans sharing stories of similar high-pressure saves, and news account @CitizenTVKE amplifying the story with a repost garnering 20,000 likes. Positive discussions highlighted the contributions of over 10,000 Kenyan nurses in the NHS, with users like @DrMikeMukhwana noting, "Kenyans are holding up the UK's healthcare system—time for better recognition!" The thread also featured celebratory posts from the Kenyan High Commission in London, which congratulated Wanjiku and called for more investment in diaspora talent.

However, the celebration quickly turned controversial as the conversation shifted to systemic issues. Wanjiku's follow-up tweet lamented chronic understaffing and stagnant wages, stating, "Saved a life today, but who saves us from 12-hour shifts for peanuts?" This sparked heated debates, with some UK-based Kenyans accusing her of "biting the hand that feeds" amid NHS strikes, while others rallied behind her, posting stats on how migrant workers fill 18% of NHS roles yet face exploitation. Regular users like @HustlerAbroad vented frustrations, with one viral reply reading, "Heroes abroad sending remittances home while slaving for £20k/year—govts owe us!" Critics, including @BrexitWatchUK, claimed it was "entitlement culture," fueling a polarized thread with over 5,000 quote tweets.

The incident underscores broader challenges for Kenya's diaspora in the UK, where recent X discussions reveal a mix of triumph and tribulation. While success stories like Wanjiku's boost national pride, ongoing threads about visa hurdles, racism, and the cost-of-living crisis dominate feeds. As one top reply from influencer @KenyaDiasporaHub put it, "From lifesavers to undervalued labor—when will the narrative change?" The story continues to trend, with calls for Wanjiku's recognition growing amid demands for policy reforms on both sides of the Atlantic.