The Ministry of Health has cancelled internship placements for 306 Bachelor of Science Nursing pre-interns who were found unqualified during an ongoing review of the 2025/2026 postings.

The ministry said the affected individuals had not completed their academic programmes and therefore did not meet the basic requirement for internship.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the revocation followed a review of the 2,098 pre-interns who had been listed for internship on July 1, 2025. An earlier batch of 42 internship offers had already been revoked on July 21.

“The posting offers for 306 BSc nurses have been revoked, in addition to the 42 previously revoked on July 21, 2025,” Duale stated.

Baraton University was the most affected with 92 revoked cases, followed by Pwani University with 48, and Kirinyaga University with 46. Other institutions where placements were withdrawn include Kenyatta University (22), Daystar University (7), Methodist University (3), and UMMA University (2).

At the same time, the Ministry announced that 316 eligible BSc Nursing pre-interns had been mistakenly left out of the original posting list. These individuals have now been cleared and directed to collect their offer letters in person on Friday, August 1, 2025, starting from 7 am at Afya House in Nairobi.

Duale said the letters will only be issued upon presentation of a valid national identity card.

“The Ministry remains committed to upholding integrity, fairness, and transparency in internship placements,” he said.

He went on to thank all stakeholders and candidates for their patience, understanding, cooperation, and continued trust in the process.

The fresh revocations come just days after Duale suspended the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya, Lister Onsongo, over the unlawful submission of 42 nursing students for internship before they had graduated.

Onsongo was replaced in an acting capacity by the Director of Standards and Compliance, Ann Mukuna.

“The Ministry of Health has uncovered a serious breach of regulations involving the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and 10 Public and Private Universities. We have noted the unlawful submission of 42 Bachelor of Science (BSc) Nursing students for internship before the completion of their academic programmes,” Duale said.

“This action is in direct contravention of the Nursing Council Act and the guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC).”

The CS emphasised that all those found responsible—whether from the Ministry, the Nursing Council, or universities—will face full accountability.