Nurses union backs suspension of council boss over illegal internship postings

Kenya National Union of Nurses leaders led by SG Seth Panyako addressing the media at their head office in Nairobi on April 3, 2024. They said their Nurses are not in strike since they are in dialogue with the Government of their issues. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has supported the suspension of the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) boss and the evocation of nurses posted illegally.

NCK chief executive Lister Onsongo was suspended following irregularities in the posting of nurse interns who are yet to complete their studies.

According to a report by the Ministry of Health, the council colluded with 10 universities to unlawfully submit 42 Bachelor of Science (BSc) nursing students for internship before the completion of their academic programmes.

“The nurses' union strongly condemns the action of NCK on this and fully supports Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale,” said Seth Panyako, Secretary General KNUN.

In an interview with The Standard, a nurses' representative said action should be taken on all those involved in the fraud.

“All these responsible must face the full force of the law,” said Panyako.

Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale said action by the council and universities is in direct contravention of the Nursing Council Act and the guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

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“The Ministry of Health has uncovered a serious breach of regulations involving the NCK and ten public and private universities, which unlawfully submitted 42 bachelor of science nursing students for internship before the completion of their academic programmes,” reads a section of the revocation letter by Health CS.

Initially, the council is expected to vet all nurses before clearing them for internship.

The intern nurses are required to have completed their studies before proceeding to an internship where they are attached to respective hospitals across the country.

During internship, the nursing interns are supervised by senior nurses and doctors.

Consequently, the ministry revoked all internship letters issued to the affected 42 students with immediate effect.

The students were instructed to vacate their duty stations as investigations commence.

The action comes barely a month after the ministry posted nurse interns, alongside clinical officers and doctors, among other health professional cadres.

At least 2,098 BSc nurses were posted.

But with the irregularities, the ministry has commenced an audit of all nurses posted.

“In line with this, the ministry has suspended Dr Lister Onsongo, the CEO of NCK, pending the outcome of a comprehensive internal audit of the full cohort of 2,098 BSc nursing interns,” noted the ministry.

Duale immediately appointed Ann Mukuna as NCK acting CEO, until further notice.

Mukana is the Director Of Standard and Compliance.

Duale maintained that the ministry is committed to upholding the integrity of healthcare training and development.

“All individuals found culpable-whether at the Ministry of Health, the NCK, or within the leadership of the implicated universities-will be held fully accountable,” maintained the CS.He added, “This matter is being treated with the utmost urgency to safeguard professional sstandardsensure compliance with statutory requirements, and protect the rights of nursing graduates and the public,”.

Duale’s sentiments were echoed by nurses, who maintained that action should be taken to avoid such occurrences in future.

Panyako said, though it is the first time such fraud is reported at the council, poo leadership might have triggered it.

The nurses' representative said action should be taken against everyone involved in the fraud.

“I condemn the current leadership. We have never experienced such occurrences. Under the previous leadership, we never used to report such,” said Panyako.

Insiders hinted to The Standard that the CS had a meeting with the suspended NCK CEO, including all learning institutions accused of allowing nursing students to proceed with internships.

“CS is holding a meeting with individuals mentioned in the fraud. They are required to share what transpired,” said the insider. “I trust action will be taken”.