The Ministry of Health has revoked yet another internship letters recently issued to medical students.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 4, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said he had revoked the internship postings for 348 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students.
Duale noted that the decision was made after careful consideration and in accordance with the Public Service Commission Internship Policy and Guidelines for the Public Service (2016) and the Ministry of Health’s Internship Policy for Healthcare Professionals (February 2020).
Can nursing students be posted for internship before graduating?
“According to the policies, internship placement is only available to individuals who have completed their studies, officially graduated, and obtained clearance from their regulatory body,” the CS said.
“Unfortunately, the affected BScN students have not yet officially graduated and therefore do not meet the eligibility criteria for internship placement,” he added.
The Ministry of Health also affirmed that it remains committed to upholding fairness and integrity in the placement process by ensuring that priority is given to individuals who have completed their studies and obtained the necessary clearance.
According to the CS, the current Public Service Commission internship establishment ceilings provide for 2,000 BScN intern positions annually, which are subject to structured inter-agency processes, including budgeting, workforce planning, and regulatory compliance.
“The Ministry of Health remains committed to providing opportunities for healthcare professionals to gain practical experience and develop their skills through our internship program,” Duale said.
Why internship for 42 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students were revoked
The latest revocation follows an earlier similar decision that affected 43 Bachelor of Science in Nursing who had been posted for internship before the completion of their academic programmes.
10 universities were also flagged for unlawfully submitting the names of the affected students.
In addition, Duale suspended Dr. Lister Onsongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya, pending the outcome of a comprehensive internal audit of the full cohort of 2,098 BSc Nursing interns.
He appointed, Ann Mukuna, Director Standards and Compliance to take over the operations of the Council until further notice.
