The Ministry of Health has suspended the CEO of the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK), Dr. Lister Onsongo, following revelations of illegal internship placements involving nursing students. The scandal has exposed significant concerns over regulatory lapses within Kenya’s health education system.
According to the Ministry, the violation involves the irregular placement of 42 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing) students into internship positions before they had completed their academic studies. This move contravenes both the Nursing Council Act and guidelines set by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which require nursing students to complete their coursework before being deployed.
As a result, the Ministry has revoked all internship letters that were issued to the 42 students. The affected students have also been instructed to immediately vacate their duty stations pending further investigations. The Ministry emphasized that this action was taken to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession and ensure that standards are not compromised.
While Dr. Onsongo remains suspended, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appointed Ms. Ann Mukuna, the Director of Standards and Compliance, to take over operations at the Nursing Council temporarily. In a public statement, Duale stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the deployment of healthcare professionals.
“This matter is being handled with utmost urgency to safeguard professional standards, ensure compliance with statutory requirements, and protect the rights of nursing graduates as well as the public,” said Duale.
He further noted that a comprehensive internal audit is already underway, covering all 2,098 BSc Nursing interns currently deployed across the country. The Ministry has also vowed to investigate the role of ten universities—both public and private—believed to have participated in the irregular placements.
Duale warned that any individuals found responsible, whether within the Ministry, the Nursing Council, or at the implicated universities, will face disciplinary action.
The incident comes amid growing public concern over the integrity of public service recruitment in Kenya. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing standards in healthcare training and pledged to take all necessary steps to restore public confidence in the system.
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