Licenses of 4 Kenyan nurses revoked following FBI probe

The operating licenses of four Kenyan nurses plying their trade in Washington D.C, have been revoked after an FBI probe determined that the quartet do not have sufficient qualifications for licensure.

Gabriel Ndung'u, Irene Waithera, Ruth Kamau and Elizabeth Nga'ng'a,  are part of 10 individuals who saw their accreditations invalidated by the Washington Department of Health (WDH) following the FBI findings.

The others are; Abera Yoseph, Antso Yangmotso, Okpalobi Shirley, Tecleab Amanuel, Igwe Ijeoma and Mesele Yeshiwork.

The FBI began its probe after reports emerged in January indicating that three medical schools in South Florida issued phony credentials to over 7,600 students which allowed them to take a national test, obtain licenses and become registered nurses.

The aforesaid institutions are Siena College, Sacred Heart International Institute and Palm Beach School of Nursing.

“In conjunction with ongoing investigations into the legitimacy of multiple Florida-based nursing schools, the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) has taken non-disciplinary action to rescind the nursing (RN) license of the following individuals,” said WDH in a statement.

NCQAC likewise denied four applicants for RN licensure in Washington State with academic qualifications from certain Florida-based nursing schools on the basis of failure to prove qualifications for licensure.

"The list of NCQAC actions to rescind licenses or deny applications associated with the Florida-based nursing schools investigation will be updated on a weekly basis, when such actions become final," said WDH.