Duale suspends Nursing Council CEO Lister Onsongo over regulations breach

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale during a press briefing at Afya House, Nairobi, on April 25, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has suspended Dr. Lister Onsongo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing Council of Kenya, for breach of regulations.

In a statement on Monday, the CS made the move after uncovering a serious breach of regulations involving the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and Ten Public and Private Universities.

“In line with this, 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 2,098 BSc Nursing interns. Consequently, I have appointed Ms. Ann Mukuna, Director Standards and Compliance, to take over the operations of the Council until further notice,”  stated Duale.

Onsongo's termination involves allegations of unlawfully submitting 42 Bachelor of Science (BSc) Nursing students for internship before they had completed their academic programmes.

“Consequently, the Ministry has revoked all internship letters issued to the affected 42 students with immediate effect. These individuals have been immediately instructed to vacate their duty stations as investigations commence,” he added.

According to the Ministry, the action is in direct contravention of the Nursing Council Act and the guidelines approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The Ministry has expressed commitment to upholding the integrity of healthcare training and deployment.

Duale further assured that all individuals found culpable—whether at the Ministry, the NCK, or within the leadership of the implicated universities—will be held fully accountable. 

The Ministry is committed to safeguarding professional standards, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, and protecting the rights of nursing graduates and the public.