President William Ruto has been drawn into the ongoing governance dispute at The Nairobi Hospital following appeals from doctors, members of the hospital’s parent association and patients seeking intervention.
In a statement issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the President revealed that his office has, over the past several months, received memoranda and representations from stakeholders of the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA) raising concerns over governance, financial and operational challenges affecting the facility.
According to the statement, stakeholders warned that the long-running disputes could negatively affect patient care, clinical governance and the hospital’s operational stability.
Among the issues raised were disputes over KHA membership, board elections and Annual General Meetings, conflicts of interest, allegations of mismanagement, leadership wrangles and growing litigation within the institution.
Established in the 1950s, Nairobi Hospital is owned and managed by the Kenya Hospital Association, a company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act, 2015.
The hospital currently serves more than 290,000 patients annually, operates six satellite centres, supports over 700 specialist doctors, and trains health professionals working across Kenya and the region.
State House noted that the hospital plays a critical role in Kenya’s healthcare system and remains an important partner in advancing national health priorities, including Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The statement also disclosed that President Ruto accepted the role of Patron of the Kenya Hospital Association in 2023, following his nomination by the association, which partly explains his involvement in efforts to address the ongoing dispute.
Efforts to resolve the crisis have included multiple consultative meetings convened by Felix Koskei, with at least 14 meetings held between the hospital’s board, doctors and other stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and seek a resolution.
These engagements led to the reconstitution of the Board of Management and the adoption of a five-point reform agenda aimed at restoring institutional stability.
The reform plan includes verification and clean-up of the KHA membership register, withdrawal of proxy litigation suits affecting hospital operations and review and strengthening of governance structures and dispute resolution mechanisms.
It also includes appointment of an independent firm to conduct a forensic financial audit and preparation for a credible and transparent Annual General Meeting
Meanwhile, following petitions from stakeholders, the Attorney General invoked Section 800 of the Companies Act to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of the Kenya Hospital Association.
A multi-agency team comprising the Business Registration Service, Asset Recovery Agency, Kenya Revenue Authority, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, National Intelligence Service and the Financial Reporting Centre conducted the probe and submitted its report to the Attorney General on March 6, 2026.
Ruto has since directed the timely conclusion and implementation of the report’s findings to safeguard the interests of patients, staff and medical professionals while ensuring the long-term stability of the hospital.
State House emphasised that Nairobi Hospital remains a vital pillar of Kenya’s healthcare system and a respected regional centre of medical excellence, adding that the government will continue supporting lawful and transparent processes to restore stability and strengthen governance at the institution.
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