Upholding the sanctity of professional standards within Kenya's vital healthcare sector, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has taken decisive action, suspending Dr. Lister Onsongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya. This significant development follows the Ministry of Health's uncovering of a serious breach of regulations concerning the irregular placement of 42 BSc Nursing Interns, a lapse that raises crucial questions about accountability and compliance within a critical regulatory body.
The core of the issue lies in the unlawful submission of these 42 interns for their mandatory professional internships by the Nursing Council, in collaboration with ten public and private universities. The critical violation? These students were put forward for internship before the formal completion of their academic programs, a clear disregard for established statutory requirements and professional protocols. Such a breach not only undermines the rigorous standards expected of nursing professionals but also jeopardizes the quality of care and public trust in the country's health system.
In response to this alarming discovery, CS Duale announced immediate and robust measures. "In line with this," stated CS Duale, "the Ministry has 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 2098 BSc Nursing interns." To ensure continuity and maintain oversight, Ms. Ann Mukuna, the Director Standards and Compliance, has been appointed to take over the Council's operations in an acting capacity until further notice. Furthermore, the Ministry has wasted no time, revoking the internship letters issued to the 42 implicated students with immediate effect, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to such irregularities.
The Ministry's firm stance is rooted in a clear imperative: to safeguard the future of nursing in Kenya and protect the public. CS Duale emphasized that "this matter is being treated with the utmost urgency to safeguard professional standards, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and protect the rights of nursing graduates and the public."
