John Mwangi
Nairobi, Kenya.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has firmly stated that “the government has no intention of interfering with or taking over The Nairobi Hospital, emphasizing that its only interest is to preserve the facility’s status as a first-class regional health institution.”
“The government has no intention of interfering with or taking over The Nairobi Hospital, emphasizing that its only interest is to preserve the facility’s status as a first-class regional health institution.”
Speaking during the Health Integration Summit in Mombasa County on Monday, CS Duale addressed ongoing concerns about the hospital’s governance and financial management.
He clarified that The Nairobi Hospital is owned by the Kenya Hospitals Association (KHA) and registered as a company limited by guarantee. This structure means it is member-owned, has no shareholders, and cannot be acquired or privatized in the conventional sense.
“The President of Kenya has traditionally served as Patron of the Hospital, reflecting its longstanding role as a premier national and regional health facility,” Duale explained.
“The President of Kenya has traditionally served as Patron of the Hospital, reflecting its longstanding role as a premier national and regional health facility,” Duale explained.
The CS acknowledged recent challenges at the hospital, including governance issues and financial management problems. These have reportedly impacted the availability of essential health commodities and caused delays in some critical surgical procedures.
In response to these matters, the Ministry of Health has directed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to conduct an audit of the hospital’s clinical infrastructure. Additionally, investigators have been deployed to examine allegations related to the facility’s operations, including claims of tax evasion, corruption, and malpractice.
Duale absolved the President and the Ministry of Health of any direct interference, stressing that the government’s role is regulatory and protective rather than ownership-based.
He dismissed reports suggesting a state-led takeover as misinformation, reiterating the ministry’s statutory duty to safeguard one of the region’s leading Level Six referral hospitals.
The Nairobi Hospital, widely regarded as a key private-sector healthcare provider in East Africa, has faced internal board disputes and external scrutiny in recent months, including clashes between its board and the broader Kenya Hospital Association over alleged mismanagement.
State House has defended President William Ruto’s involvement in the ongoing Nairobi Hospital dispute, stating that he intervened only after appeals from concerned stakeholders. Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed clarified that Ruto’s actions stem from his role as patron of the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA), which owns and manages the hospital, as well as his position as Head of State. The President was briefed and petitioned by stakeholders regarding the institution’s challenges.
The Nairobi Hospital has been dogged by governance, financial, and operational issues in recent months.
President Ruto pushed for reforms in five key areas to stabilize the institution ahead of a key annual general meeting. These reportedly include verification of the association’s membership register, withdrawal of ongoing proxy lawsuits, reforms to strengthen governance structures, and the appointment of an independent audit firm to conduct a forensic audit into financial concerns.
Key opposition figures have accused President Ruto of seeking a stake or influence in The Nairobi Hospital.
In a related development, several Nairobi Hospital and KHA officials were arrested over the weekend and charged in court on Monday. The charges relate to the alleged alteration of the members’ register, conflict of interest, unlawful receipt of benefits, and failure to comply with financial reporting requirements.
The accused, including board chairman Dr. Job Obwaka, vice-chairman Samson Kinyanjui, former chairman Dr. Chris Bichage, and others, denied the charges.
The court released the suspects on a personal bond of Ksh 5 million each, with two sureties, and set pre-trial mention for March 31, 2026.