The Ministry of Health has announced the revocation of internship placements for 42 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. The decision follows a serious breach of regulatory procedures by ten public and private universities.
In a statement issued on Monday July, 21 Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed that the universities unlawfully submitted the names of the 42 students for internship before they had completed their academic programs. Duale says the move contravenes both the Nursing Council Act and Public Service Commission (PSC) guidelines.
“This action is in direct contravention of the Nursing Council Act and the guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission,” said the statement.
As a result, the Ministry has revoked the internship letters issued to the affected students and ordered them to vacate their duty stations immediately as investigations commence.
The Ministry has also suspended Dr. Lister Onsongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK), pending the outcome of a full internal audit of all 2,098 BSc Nursing interns for the 2025/2026 cohort. Ann Mukuna, Director of Standards and Compliance, has been appointed to oversee operations at the NCK in the interim.
CS Duale emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to upholding professional standards in healthcare training and deployment. “All individuals found culpable, whether at the Ministry of Health, the NCK, or within the leadership of the implicated universities, will be held fully accountable,” Duale said.
The Ministry assured the public that the matter is being handled with urgency to protect the integrity of nursing education and safeguard the rights of graduates and the public.
