THE MANDATE AND FUNCTIONS OF NURSING COUNCIL OF KENYA

THE MANDATE
Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) established under The Nurses Act Cap. 257 of the Laws of
Kenya is mandated to make provision for the training, registration, enrolment and licensing of
nurses; to regulate their conduct and to ensure their maximum participation in the health care of
community and for connected purposes.
VISION
The Vision is the strategic intent; the desired future state of the organization. The leadership and
management of NCK are committed to the creation of a successful organization. The defining
character of NCK is quality service delivery.
The vision of NCK has, therefore, been articulated as: The Nursing council of Kenya is
committed to the provision of world class nursing education and practice.
MISSION STATEMENT
Mission is the over-riding reason for the existence of any organization. The evolution of NCK
as a regulatory institution has been guided by the mandate as spelt out in Cap. 257. The mission
seeks to create the meaning of the organization in the environment.
It answers to the question: what business are we in?
The agreed mission of NCK is: To ensure the provision of quality nurses training and
maintenance of professional nursing practice through appropriate regulations.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL

Under the Nurses Act Cap 257 Laws of Kenya, the Functions of the Council are: to establish and improve standards of all branches of the nursing profession in all their aspects
and to safeguard the interests of all nurses;
to establish and improve the standards of professional nursing and of health care within the
community;
with the approval of the minister, to make provision for the training and instruction for persons
seeking registration or enrolment under the Nurses Act;

 with the approval of the Minister, to prescribe and regulate syllabi of instruction and courses of
training for persons seeking registration or enrolment;
to recommend to the minister institutions to be approved institutions for training of persons
seeking registration or enrolment;
with approval of the minister to prescribe and conduct examinations for persons seeking
registration or enrolment;
to prescribe badges, insignia and uniforms to be worn by persons registered, enrolled or
licensed;
to have regard to the conduct of persons registered, enrolled or licensed under the Nurses Act,
and to take such disciplinary measures as may be necessary to maintain a proper standard of
conduct among such persons;
to have regard to the standards of nursing care, qualified staff, facilities, conditions and
environment of health institutions, and to take such disciplinary or appropriate measures as may
be necessary to maintain proper standard of nursing care in health institutions;
to direct and supervise the compilation and maintenance of registers, rolls and records required
to be kept; and
to advise the minister on matters concerning all aspects of nursing.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Nursing Council of Kenya is made up of the Council and the Secretariat.
The Council is composed of elected and nominated members who serve a three year term. The
Council has a chairman who is elected by members on annual basis.
The Secretariat is made up of Officers and Council staff who are under the Registrar. Currently,
the Registrar and Officers are seconded to the Council by the Ministry of Health while the staffs
(administrative and supportive) are employees of the Council.
Under the Council there are three (3) Standing Committees that are assigned responsibilities
necessary to achieve the Council mandate. These are Registration and Licensing, Education, and
Standards and Ethics Standing Committees. The fourth one is Finance, Administration and
Human Resources and discharges duties that go with its name.
The Secretariat is organized into Departments that work hand in hand with the Committees. The
departments (see the organizational structure) are directly under the Registrar and are run by the
Officers.

ROLES OF THE SECRETARIAT

Office of Registrar The key role is:
Policy in key results areas developed;
Strategic planning and performance management integrated in the management of NCK:
Leadership and good corporate governance integrated in all aspects of NCK;
Council and Committees of the Council regularly convened and facilitated in their roles.
Registration and Licensing The key role is:
Processing TOK applications;
Facilitating internship;
Retention system;
Private Practice;
Research;
Keeping registers and records;
Monthly meeting and minutes.
Examination The key roles are:
Identification of examiners
Coordination of examination setting and marking;
Compilation of results and presentation to relevant committees;
Communication of results;
Indexing;
Keeping records of students.
Education The key roles are:
Coordination of meetings;

 Developing and reviewing training materials including syllabi and curricula;

Coordinating distance learning;
Coordinating continuing education;
Support supervision to training institutions.
Standards and Ethics The key roles are:
Visits to schools and hospitals;
Review of policy;
Development of standards of education and practice;
Code of practice;
Compilation of list of approved schools for training;
Coordination of standards and investigation committees.
Finance, Administration and Human Resource The key roles:
Management of financial resources;
Working capital management;
Financial accounting;
Costing and budgeting;
Dissemination of financial information for managerial decision making.
Strict adherence and compliance with overall organizational plans, policies, procedures and
statutory reporting deadlines;
Accurate application of internal financial systems and controls;
Security and safe custody of assets, financial documents and records;
Monitoring, collection /payment and management of debtors and creditors.
Human resource planning and recruitment;
Human resource utilization strategies;

 Human resource training and development;

Compensation and welfare;
Industrial relations.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The NURSING COUNCIL OF KENYA strives to achieve clearly defined objectives within
specified time periods as per its Strategic Plan. In addressing these objectives, NCK aims to
advance four key goals. These are: Improved Nursing standards; Improved service delivery and
image; Institutional development; financial sustainability; and ICT development. The
achievement of these goals will address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities
that will arise thereon. These goals are detailed hereunder.
To improve Nursing standards
NCK will review and improve the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and also
systematize the Retention system in order to make them user friendly and more inclusive.
To improve Service Delivery
NCK seeks to be a leading service provider. Qualified new staff will be employed to man
needing areas; empowered through appropriate development programs and a culture of customer
service. The secretariat will be restructured to clearly focus on customer service delivery.
Using technology, measures will be instituted to guarantee quick service feedback and
settlement. Customer views will be sought frequently on the level of their satisfaction with NCK
service and remedial action instituted appropriately. NCK will develop and disseminate, a
Customer Service Charter, to its stakeholders detailing its service promise.
To build a strong institution
Institutional development will focus on building own competent management and integrating
effective systems of human resource management in NCK. In addition, NCK will enhance
leadership and governance at council level; and will develop and implement a policy on
governance and ethics at all levels in the organization. Council and management will be trained
in Corporate Governance and Ethics. A practice manual will also be developed.
To improve the competence of staff at all levels, training needs will be analyzed and appropriate
trainings undertaken. Present terms of service will be reviewed and improved to adopt
compensation in line with market levels.
Performance management will be introduced for effective utilization and productivity of human
resources. Institutional development objectives will, therefore, focus on human resource
development and integration of good governance at NCK.

Legal and professional counsel will be sought in order to facilitate for autonomy and the
reduction of council size.
To build financial sustainability
N CK seeks to achieve financial sustainability in order to be able to hire own management and
to support quality service delivery. This will be achieved by ensuring provision of quality service
to customers and charging cost- effective fees.
The Council has two properties rented out. It will be necessary to review their economic value
and their appropriateness as investments. A third property is used by the Secretariat as its
domicile. It is neither adequate nor suitable for the purpose. Decisions will be made on whether
to undertake major refurbishment or bring it down altogether.
To build ICT capability
In order to improve service delivery and strengthen operational effectiveness, the acquisition of
an appropriate Information Communication and Technology (ICT) system will be necessary. This
will facilitate communication between the secretariat and its stakeholders and to also provide a
platform for e-Learning among a host of benefits. To reap the benefits of ICT the following areas
are looked at: Review and adjust operational and overheads costs;
Re-engineer all processes and systems to reduce costs;
Integrate ICT in key operational processes;
Invest in technology on the basis of clearly focused operational plans;
Implement an effective system of budgeting and budgeting controls;