Ministry of Health Revokes Irregular Nursing Internships
Date: 21st July 2025. The Ministry of Health has launched a decisive crackdown on irregular internship placements within the nursing sector, following revelations of serious breaches involving the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and ten public and private universities. According to a press statement issued today, 42 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students were unlawfully submitted for internship placements before completing their academic programs.
The Ministry termed this action a direct violation of the Nursing Council Act and the Public Service Commission (PSC) guidelines. As a result, the internship letters previously issued to the 42 students have been revoked with immediate effect, and the affected individuals have been instructed to vacate their duty stations while investigations are underway.
In a swift response to the breach, the Ministry has suspended Dr. Lister Onsongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya. This suspension is pending the results of a comprehensive internal audit covering the full 2025/2026 BScN internship cohort, which includes a total of 2,098 students.
To ensure continuity and oversight, Ms. Ann Mukuna, Director of Standards and Compliance, has been appointed to take over the operations of the Nursing Council until further notice.
“The Ministry is committed to upholding the integrity of healthcare training and deployment,” said Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, who signed off on the statement. “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.”
The Ministry emphasized that this matter is being treated with utmost urgency to protect professional standards, ensure compliance with statutory requirements, and safeguard the interests of nursing graduates and the public.
This development marks a significant move by the Ministry of Health to reinforce accountability in Kenya’s healthcare education system and restore confidence in the regulatory frameworks governing professional medical training.
