Placement of another 306 Bachelor of Science (Nursing) students on internship revoked
Duale said investigations have also found out that 316 pre-interns had been omitted from the previous despite meeting eligibility criteria for posting
The ministry of Health has revoked the placement of 306 Bachelor of Science (Nursing) students on internship after a review of 2,080 pre-interns posted on July 1 revealed that they have not graduated.
This is in addition to 92 students whose internship was earlier revoked after the scandal came to light on July 21, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said.
Of the students, 22 are from Kenyatta University, University, seven from Daystar University; three from Methodist University; two from Maasai Mara University, Baraton University and UMMA University; one each from Embu University, Karatina University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and Mt Kenya University.
Duale said investigations have also found out that 316 pre-interns had been omitted from the previous despite meeting eligibility criteria for posting.
They have been advised to pick their internship offer letters in person on Friday, August 1, from 7 am at the ministry headquarters, Afya House, which will be issued upon presentation of a valid National Identity card.
The unearthing of the scandal led to the suspension of Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) Chief Executive Officer Dr Lister Onsongo and revoked Bachelor of Science (BSC) Nursing internship placement of internship for 2025/26 after it emerged that she had unlawfully admitted the 42 students from 10 public and private universities.
Duale subsequently issued a raft of reforms including establishment of a centralised digital platform to streamline submissions, enhance data verification, and eliminate errors.
The Director-General for Health was also directed to issue uniform guidelines covering eligibility criteria, submission timelines, and stakeholder roles under Section 17(j) of the Health Act.
At the same time, a new unit within the ministry will oversee internship placement, improve institutional coordination, and enforce compliance while only students placed through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will be eligible for government-sponsored internships. Self-sponsored students will be required to fund their own internships.
Further, under the new guidelines, universities must strictly follow student admission limits approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE), to prevent over-enrolment and planning distortions.
