Respiratory Therapist
Allied health professional specialising in cardiopulmonary care — managing ventilators, administering breathing treatments, performing pulmonary function tests and managing patients with respiratory conditions. In Kenya — where pneumonia is a leading cause of child mortality, COPD and asthma are common, and ICU capacity is limited — respiratory therapists are essential for critical care and pulmonary medicine.
- AI exposure
- 40 of 100, moderate exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 30%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Time to senior
- 6 years
A day in the role
Manages ventilator settings for 3 ICU patients — adjusting parameters based on blood gas results. Administers nebulised medications to a patient with severe asthma. Performs spirometry on a patient with suspected COPD. Assists with emergency intubation in the emergency department. Provides chest physiotherapy to a post-operative patient. Educates a newly diagnosed asthma patient on inhaler technique. Monitors oxygen therapy for a patient with pneumonia.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 45,000-85,000
- Mid
- KES 100,000-220,000
- Senior
- KES 250,000-550,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 46% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside health sciences the mean is 25, across 137 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered ventilator setting optimisation from patient blood gas and lung data
- Automated pulmonary function test interpretation
- AI-assisted early warning for respiratory deterioration
- Generating patient education materials for respiratory conditions
Still human
- Managing mechanical ventilation — setting ventilator parameters (mode, tidal volume, PEEP, FiO2), monitoring blood gases, weaning from ventilation
- Administering respiratory treatments — nebulised medications, bronchodilators, chest physiotherapy, oxygen therapy
- Performing pulmonary function tests (PFTs) — spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity for diagnosing COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis
- Managing ICU respiratory care — airway management, intubation assistance, extubation, ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention
- Managing emergency respiratory care — asthma exacerbation, COPD exacerbation, pulmonary oedema, cardiac arrest resuscitation
- Providing oxygen therapy — oxygen delivery systems (nasal cannula, masks, CPAP, high-flow nasal oxygen), monitoring oxygenation
- Conducting arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis — interpreting pH, PaO2, PaCO2, bicarbonate for acid-base and oxygenation assessment
- Educating patients — asthma and COPD self-management, inhaler technique, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation
Task counts
- Displacing
- Minimal — respiratory therapy requires hands-on patient care, ventilator management and clinical judgement that AI cannot perform.
- Augmenting
- AI ventilator optimisation improves outcomes. Automated PFT interpretation speeds diagnosis. AI early warning prevents deterioration.
- Creating
- AI-driven respiratory platforms create new roles for therapists who can integrate AI monitoring with hands-on clinical care.
Sources
Behind the rating- KNH ICU operations
- Kenya ICU capacity data
- KMTC respiratory therapy programmes
- Kenya respiratory disease burden (WHO)
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
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- Craft in School Laboratory TechnicianKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
BSc Respiratory Therapy + registration
4-6 yearsVery high cost
BSc Respiratory Therapy from KMTC, JKUAT or international institution plus registration — entry as respiratory therapist
Clinical Medicine + ICU/respiratory specialisation
5-7 yearsVery high cost
Clinical medicine degree plus ICU or respiratory care specialisation — common path in Kenya where dedicated RT programmes are limited
Who hires
- KNH (ICU and Respiratory)
- Aga Khan University Hospital
- MTRH (Eldoret ICU)
- Nairobi Hospital
- County Referral Hospitals (ICU)
Common misconceptions
Respiratory therapists just give oxygen
Respiratory therapists manage ventilators, perform pulmonary function tests, manage airways, interpret blood gases, provide chest physiotherapy and manage complex respiratory emergencies. Oxygen therapy is one small part of the role.
Nurses and doctors can handle respiratory care — no need for specialists
While nurses and doctors can provide basic respiratory care, dedicated respiratory therapists have specialised training in ventilation, pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary physiology. ICU outcomes improve with dedicated respiratory therapy staff.
Kenya doesn't have enough ICUs to need respiratory therapists
Kenya's limited ICU capacity makes respiratory therapists MORE important — each ICU bed must be used efficiently, and ventilator management expertise is critical for patient survival. Every ICU needs respiratory therapy expertise.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +15%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- ICU expansion post-COVID,Respiratory disease burden (COPD, asthma, TB, pneumonia),Recognition of respiratory therapy as a profession,Private hospital ICU expansion,Ventilator capacity building
- Headwinds
- Limited training programmes,Limited professional recognition,Limited ICU capacity in public sector,Budget constraints
What to learn
- AI-powered ventilator management and weaning protocols
- Advanced pulmonary function testing technology
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support
- Tele-ICU for remote respiratory support
- Pulmonary rehabilitation and chronic respiratory care
Kenyan market notes
Respiratory therapy is an emerging allied health profession in Kenya. Currently, many respiratory care functions in Kenyan ICUs are performed by clinical officers, nurses and anesthesiologists rather than dedicated respiratory therapists. Key context: pneumonia is a leading cause of child mortality in Kenya (KDHS), COPD and asthma affect millions, TB burden is high (Kenya is a high-burden TB country), and COVID-19 highlighted the need for respiratory care capacity. ICU capacity: Kenya has approximately 500-600 ICU beds for 50M+ people — very limited, and respiratory care expertise is critical for ICU outcomes. Key institutions: KNH (has ICU with ventilator capacity — largest public ICU), Aga Khan University Hospital (private — advanced ICU and respiratory services), MTRH (Eldoret — ICU services), Nairobi Hospital (private — ICU), county referral hospitals (limited ICU — most have 2-10 ICU beds). Training: limited dedicated respiratory therapy programmes in Kenya — KMTC is developing programmes, some professionals train internationally (South Africa, India, US). Most respiratory care in Kenya is provided by clinical officers and nurses with ICU experience. Key challenges: limited recognition of respiratory therapy as a distinct profession, very limited training programmes, limited ventilator capacity in public hospitals, and limited pulmonary function testing equipment. Growing demand: COVID-19 increased awareness of respiratory care needs, ICU expansion plans, and growing burden of respiratory disease (COPD from biomass fuel exposure, asthma, TB). Salary: entry KES 45,000-85,000 (respiratory care officer), mid KES 100,000-220,000 (respiratory therapist), senior KES 250,000-550,000+ (head of respiratory care or ICU therapist). Private hospitals pay more than public.
Further reading
This role is rated 40 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.