A growing number of nursing graduates across Kenya are voicing their frustration over delayed internship deployments, accusing the government of neglect and discrimination.

The nurses, speaking on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Nairobi, said that despite having completed their qualifications. They claim they remain in limbo as the Ministry of Health continues to prioritise other medical cadres in its internship rollout.

The outcry comes just days after the Ministry of Health announced internship opportunities for medical doctors, sparking anger among unemployed nurses who feel sidelined.

“We have done everything required of us. We have graduated, we are qualified, but we are still waiting,” Nashipai Joyline, a nursing graduate, said.

“Since graduation, we have not been involved in any income-generating activities. We are at home, idle and frustrated.”

According to the nurses, the delay in their deployment not only affects their professional growth but also hinders their licensing process. Without completing the mandatory internship, they are unable to secure licenses from the Nursing Council of Kenya, effectively barring them from formal employment in the healthcare sector.

“Our licenses are tied to internship completion, so we are stuck. We cannot practice, and we cannot earn. It’s unfair. We are watching as other professions get deployed while we remain forgotten,” she said.

Partiality in intern recruitment?

They have raised concerns over bias and favouritism within the Ministry. Geoffrey Oteki, a nursing graduate from Meru University, expressed concerns about partiality in how healthcare interns are selected and placed.

“There is clear discrimination in the deployment process. Doctors are being prioritised while we, the nurses, are left behind. We are equally essential in the healthcare system. It is as if our service is not valued at all,” Oteki said.

The aggrieved nurses are now calling for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders.

They are demanding a transparent and inclusive deployment plan that ensures all qualified healthcare workers, including nurses, are treated fairly and given equal opportunities.

As hospitals across the country continue to face staffing shortages, many believe that the delayed deployment of nurses is a missed opportunity in strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system. With mounting pressure from nursing graduates and professional bodies, the Ministry of Health is expected to respond in the coming days.

“We are not asking for favours. We are asking for what we have worked for—an opportunity to serve our country and earn a living,” Nashipai said.