Major Scandal Unfolds in Kenya’s Nursing Internship Programme
A significant scandal has emerged in Kenya’s nursing internship programme, revealing serious gaps and mismanagement. The situation has prompted a thorough investigation led by the Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, who recently provided an update on the ongoing efforts to address the issue.
Over 300 students were found to be unqualified for their placements, while another 316 eligible candidates were mistakenly excluded from the list. This has created a chaotic situation that the Ministry of Health is now working to resolve.
Revisions and Corrections
As part of the corrective measures, the ministry has revoked the placements of 306 unqualified students. This follows the earlier revocation of 42 students on July 21. The affected students were placed without meeting the required qualifications, which violates the guidelines set out by the Nursing Council Act and the Public Service Commission’s regulations.
Several universities have been implicated in this misconduct, including both private and public institutions. The names of these universities and the number of students affected are as follows:
- Baraton University: 92 students, 2 revoked
- Catholic University: 6 students
- Daystar University: 27 students, 7 revoked
- Egerton University: 2 students
- Embu University: 1 student
- Karatina University: 1 student
- Kenyatta University: 22 students
- Kirinyaga University: 46 students, 4 revoked
- Kisii University: 22 students
- Maasai Mara University: 2 students
- Masinde Muliro University: 1 student
- Methodist University: 14 students, 3 revoked
- Meru University of Science and Technology: 38 students
- Mount Kenya University: 2 students, 1 revoked
- Pwani University: 48 students
- South Eastern Kenya University: 6 students
- UMMA University: 2 students, 2 revoked
Total: 306 students affected, with 42 revoked.
Eligible Students to Collect Offer Letters
In a surprising development, the Ministry discovered that 316 eligible students had been wrongly excluded from the internship list. These students, who met all the necessary criteria, will now receive their offer letters in person.
The affected students are instructed to collect their official letters on Friday, August 1, starting at 7 am from the Ministry of Health headquarters, Afya House, Nairobi. Each student must present a valid national ID to verify their identity during the process.
Duale emphasized the ministry’s commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity in the placement process. He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their patience and trust in the government’s efforts to improve the system.
Suspension of Nursing Council CEO
The scandal has also resulted in the suspension of Lister Onsongo, the CEO of the Nursing Council of Kenya. She was suspended for failing to prevent the irregular placements, which compromised training standards and patient safety.
Onsongo was accused of neglecting her regulatory duties, leading to a situation that endangered both the quality of training and the well-being of patients. Ann Mukuna, the Ministry’s director of standards and compliance, has been appointed as the acting CEO while the investigations continue.
Ongoing Investigations
The Ministry is continuing its investigations into the controversial placements, aiming to identify the root causes of the issues and implement long-term solutions. The goal is to ensure that future internships are conducted fairly and transparently, protecting both the students and the healthcare system.
This incident highlights the need for stricter oversight and accountability in the nursing education sector. As the Ministry works to correct the current mess, it remains focused on restoring public confidence in the system.