Health CS Aden Duale chairs a consultative meeting with universities offering nursing programmes in Nairobi on July 22, 2025 / HANDOUT
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced major reforms aimed at restoring transparency, fairness, and accountability in the placement of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) interns.
The move comes after an internal audit exposed serious irregularities in the 2025/2026 internship cycle.
Speaking after a meeting with universities offering nursing programmes, Duale said the Ministry of Health will introduce a centralised digital platform to manage all internship submissions.
The platform is expected to enhance verification, reduce errors, and streamline the process for all stakeholders involved.
The ministry is also rolling out national guidelines to standardise eligibility criteria and timelines and clearly define the roles of stakeholders.
In addition, a new Internship Coordination Unit has been created within the Ministry to oversee placements.
The reforms will also enforce strict compliance with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) rules and Commission for University Education (CUE)-approved admission quotas.
Duale said the Ministry is in talks with the National Treasury to secure Sh408 million to place the 339 verified interns who had initially been left out due to the Public Service Commission’s cap.
An internal audit by the ministry uncovered several anomalies, including the inclusion of 42 students who had not completed their academic programmes, the exclusion of 339 eligible interns, and the submission of foreign students who do not qualify for government-sponsored internships.
In response, Duale announced that all internship letters issued to the 42 unqualified students have been revoked.
The affected individuals have been instructed to vacate their internship stations immediately.
On Monday, July 21, Duale suspended the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya, Lister Onsongo, over her alleged role in the unlawful submissions.
The Director of Standards and Compliance, Ann Mukuna, has been appointed to oversee the council’s operations until further notice.
Ten public and private universities were found to have submitted unverified or unauthorized student data.
The Nursing Council of Kenya was also faulted for failing to verify this data before submission.
“We remain committed to building a credible, accountable health internship system that upholds professional standards and protects patient safety,” said Duale.
He added that all individuals found responsible for the irregularities—whether within the Ministry, the Nursing Council, or at the implicated universities—will be held fully accountable.