Nairobi Hospital Denies Management Crisis Amid Allegations, Reaffirms Stability

The Nairobi Hospital has dismissed claims of a management crisis, countering statements by a group of doctors and President William Ruto that suggested the hospital was in distress and required presidential intervention.

President Ruto had previously stated that senior hospital officials approached him, seeking assistance to protect the facility from fraudsters. 

He emphasized that Nairobi Hospital, a premier medical institution in Kenya, would not be “taken hostage by conmen.” 

Following these appeals, the President instructed that anyone involved in fraudulent activities be removed and prosecuted.

However, addressing a press conference on March 19, 2026, Barcley Onyambu clarified that the hospital remains stable, fully operational, and continues to deliver healthcare across all departments. 

Onyambu described the matter as a governance issue rather than an institutional collapse and warned that public disputes could erode confidence in the hospital.

He also criticized the arrest of certain hospital directors by state agencies, calling it unprecedented and a violation of personal rights, especially as the individuals had been granted anticipatory bail. 

The arrested officials faced charges including conflict of interest, unlawful receipt of benefits, failure to file financial statements, and falsifying records.

The hospital further stated that the group of doctors who met the President—Dr David Silverstein, Dr Martin Wanyoike, Dr Stephen Muhudhia, and Dr Florence Murila—acted independently and did not represent the institution. 

CEO Felix Osano confirmed that the financial figures circulating publicly are inaccurate, denying claims of a Sh9.1 billion loss or a Sh4.2 billion loan. He added that internal financial statements indicate a positive recovery trajectory relative to 2024.

Agnes Gachuku also criticized the doctors’ actions, labeling them irregular, biased, and a breach of established internal communication channels. 

She stressed that the hospital has mechanisms to address conflicts of interest and that the informal meeting with the President bypassed proper procedures.

The Kenya Hospital Association, of which President Ruto is the patron, continues to support the hospital’s leadership and governance structures, insisting that Nairobi Hospital remains a stable and vital healthcare institution.