- Senator Edwin Sifuna has demanded urgent government action to deploy 47 Kibabii University nursing graduates for their mandatory internship.
- The graduates have completed their studies and passed the Nursing Council of Kenya licensing exams but remain undeployed.
- Sifuna has called on the Ministry of Health to act swiftly, warning that the delay undermines a health sector already facing staffing shortages.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has demanded urgent government action to facilitate internship placements for 47 pioneer Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates from Kibabii University, warning that qualified professionals should not be left idle after meeting all legal requirements to join the healthcare workforce.
Raising the matter in the Senate, Sifuna expressed concern that the graduates, despite completing their studies and passing the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) licensing examinations, remain in limbo without deployment to the mandatory internship programme. He said the delay has trapped them in uncertainty, preventing progression into professional practice even though they are fully qualified.
Kenya’s nursing training framework requires graduates to undertake a compulsory internship before full registration and independent practice. The affected group represents the first cohort of nursing students to graduate from Kibabii University, making their stalled transition a matter of national significance.
The senator argued that the situation undermines the country’s health sector at a time when public facilities continue to grapple with staffing shortages. He called on the Ministry of Health and other responsible agencies to act swiftly and ensure the graduates are absorbed without further delay.
Sifuna emphasised that the graduates had fulfilled every academic and professional requirement expected of them, including passing NCK licensing exams, and should not be subjected to prolonged waiting before beginning their careers. He urged government agencies to uphold fairness and accountability in managing internship placements.
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The issue has also spotlighted the role of universities in advocating for their graduates. Stakeholders insist that institutions must actively engage government agencies to safeguard their alumni from disadvantage during the transition from training to employment.
For the 47 graduates, the Senate intervention has raised hopes that government action will soon follow. They now look forward to beginning the mandatory internship programme, paving the way for full registration as professional nurses and eventual entry into the healthcare workforce.
By Our Reporter
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