Senior Doctors Seek Presidential Help to Rescue Nairobi Hospital from Crisis

A group of senior medical consultants at Nairobi Hospital has appealed directly to President William Ruto to intervene and save the institution from collapse. Having served at the hospital for over two decades, the doctors say mismanagement and corruption by the Board have pushed the hospital to the brink.

“The Nairobi Hospital is not just a private entity. It sits on 21.8 acres of public land, granted by the government to provide healthcare to Kenyans,” the doctors stated. Over its 70-year history, the hospital has cared for national leaders and thousands of patients from across East Africa, making it a pillar of the country’s healthcare system.

Attempts to resolve the crisis through other channels failed. In 2025, the doctors approached the Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service, raising concerns over financial mismanagement and manipulation of the membership register. Following these complaints, the Attorney General authorized a Section 800 investigation, recovering documents hidden in offices and even rescued from an incinerator, exposing evidence of serious fraud and malpractice.

The hospital faces severe financial strain, including losses of more than KES 3 billion, outstanding supplier debts exceeding KES 4 billion, and missing reserves of KES 9.1 billion. The Board has also ignored court orders aimed at halting financial mismanagement, further deepening the crisis.

The doctors emphasized that their appeal is not about government takeover. “The hospital belongs to its members. The Board’s corruption must be addressed, and those responsible should resign or be removed,” they said. They called for transparent and fair elections of new Board members to restore trust and stability.

“This is about saving a critical institution, not political interests,” the doctors said. “We took an oath to save lives, and that includes protecting the hospital that allows us to serve Kenyans. Nairobi Hospital must be preserved for the thousands of patients today and the generations yet to come.”