The Ministry of Health has announced sweeping reforms to restore transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the posting of nursing interns, following serious irregularities in the 2025/2026 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) internship placements.
Speaking during a high-level consultative meeting with universities offering nursing programmes, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale outlined urgent measures to overhaul the internship process and align it with Kenya’s broader health workforce goals.
Among the key reforms introduced are:
- Digitization of Internship Submissions: A centralized digital platform will be developed to manage submissions, improve data verification, and minimize errors.
- Standardized Guidelines: The Director-General for Health will issue uniform national guidelines detailing eligibility, submission deadlines, and stakeholder roles under Section 17(j) of the Health Act.
- Internship Coordination Unit: A new unit will be established within the Ministry to supervise placement processes and ensure institutional compliance.
- Strict KUCCPS Compliance: Only students placed through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will qualify for government-sponsored internships. Self-sponsored students will cover their own costs.
- CUE-Approved Admission Quotas: Universities must adhere to student intake limits approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE) to prevent over-enrolment and resource strain.
“These reforms are about safeguarding the future of healthcare in Kenya. We are building a system that ensures fairness, accountability, and quality in health professional training,” said CS Duale.
The reforms follow an audit that uncovered alarming discrepancies in the internship list submitted by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK). Findings included the inclusion of 42 ineligible students, some of whom had not completed training, and the exclusion of 339 qualified candidates. The list also contained foreign students, who are not entitled to government-sponsored placements.
Ten universities were flagged for submitting unverified or unauthorized student data. These include Kenyatta University, Daystar University, Kenya Methodist University, Masai Mara University, University of Embu, Mount Kenya University, Umma University, Baraton University, Karatina University, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
The Ministry has since revoked the irregular internship placements and notified affected centres. CS Duale also held the NCK accountable for failing to verify submissions as required.
“The Ministry will ensure all institutions involved face appropriate action. We are committed to upholding professionalism and protecting patient safety in our healthcare system,” Duale affirmed.
The reforms mark a critical step toward strengthening Kenya’s health workforce pipeline and ensuring fair and credible internship opportunities for all qualified students.
Written By Rodney Mbua
