Duale Exposes 10 Kenyan Universities Which Provided False Student Data [LIST]

The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has exposed at least ten universities offering medicine courses for submitting false student information to the ministry to secure the 2025/2026 internship placements for their students.

CS Duale, in a statement on Tuesday, July 22, said that the universities had submitted unverified student data to secure government-sponsored internships, labelling this move as unlawful.

This comes following an internal audit of which revealed major anomalies including the inclusion of 42 unqualified individuals, the exclusion of 339 eligible interns, and the submission of foreign students not eligible for government sponsorship.

Duale Exposes 10 universities that provided false student data 

The universities 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 Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) was also faulted for failing to verify student data before submission.

“Consequently, I have revoked the 42 irregular placements and notified the affected internship centres. We remain committed to building a credible, accountable health internship system that upholds professional standards and protects patient safety,” said Duale.

Also Read: Makerere vs UoN: Medicine Course Four Times Cheaper in Uganda’s Top University 

The CS on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with universities offering nursing programmes, where he announced far-reaching reforms to restore integrity, transparency, and fairness in the posting of Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Nursing interns, following the serious irregularities in the 2025/2026 placement process.

According to Duale, key interventions include a centralized digital platform for internship submissions to enhance verification and eliminate errors.

Others include national guidelines to standardize eligibility, timelines, and stakeholder roles, creation of an internship coordination unit within the Ministry of Health to oversee placements, and enforcement of Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) compliance for eligibility.

The CS also said that the ministry will ensure strict adherence to CUE-approved student admission quotas and that there is an ongoing engagement with the National Treasury to secure Ksh408 million to accommodate 339 verified interns above the Public Service Commission (PSC) cap.

Nursing Council of Kenya CEO suspended

On Monday, Duale suspended the NCK Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Lister Onsongo, after the ministry uncovered a serious breach of regulations involving the council and the public and private universities, which have been exposed.

Also Read: Duale Fires CEO Over Internship Blunder Affecting 10 Universities

He, in turn, appointed Ann Mukuna, Director of Standards and Compliance, to take over the operations of the council until further notice.

“The Ministry is committed to upholding the integrity of healthcare training and deployment. All individuals found culpable-whether at the Ministry of Health. The NCK, or within the leadership of the implicated universities be held fully accountable,” read part of the statement by Duale.

“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.”

The deployment of the 2025/2026 internship placements included 2,098 BSc Nursing Officer interns, 1,993 Clinical Officer interns (Diploma), 1,147 Medical Officer interns, 659 BSc Clinical Officer interns, 500 Pharmacist interns, and 87 Dentist interns. 

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