NAIROBI, Kenya — Allegations have emerged linking senior government operatives to an escalating power struggle over control of The Nairobi Hospital, one of Kenya’s largest private medical facilities.
According to reports by Citizen TV, sources familiar with the matter claim that the name of William Ruto has been invoked in a series of meetings where pressure was allegedly applied to alter the hospital’s board composition.
Sources told the broadcaster that on March 9, 2026, the hospital board chair Dr Barcley Onyambu, was summoned to Harambee House, the Office of the President, where he was allegedly instructed to facilitate three vacancies within the board.
According to the sources, Onyambu was given a list of names to fill the positions and told that the President wanted the changes implemented within a week.
Officials present at the meeting were reportedly linked to the office of the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, although the claims have not been independently confirmed.
The allegations come amid a long-running governance dispute at the hospital that insiders say has intensified over the past year. Some board members are said to be operating in what sources describe as an atmosphere of intimidation, including fears of possible arrests.
The arrest of Dr. Job Obwaka is cited by insiders as a turning point in the dispute, with some members interpreting the action as part of broader pressure surrounding the hospital’s management.
Citizen TV also reports that additional meetings discussing the hospital’s leadership and governance were allegedly held at both Harambee House and State House, Nairobi.
During one of the meetings, a senior official was quoted as saying that although Nairobi Hospital is a private institution, it carries a “public character,” a remark that sources say has been used to justify government interest in its governance.
The hospital is operated by the Kenya Hospital Association, a membership-based organization with more than 3,000 members. The association functions as a non-profit entity and manages the hospital under a company limited by guarantee structure as provided for under the Companies Act.
That ownership model has become a central issue in the dispute.
Sources claim there has been external pressure to convert the institution into a company limited by shares — a move that would significantly alter control of the hospital and potentially allow ownership stakes to be distributed.
Internal communication reviewed by Citizen TV indicates that in a memo dated February 6, 2026, company secretary Gilbert Nyamweya announced the co-option of Dr. Sylvester Okumu Kasuku and Moses Agoi Ondaba to the hospital’s board. Sources alleged the names had been submitted from Harambee House.
Insiders further claim that pressure has been exerted to effect as many as nine changes within the hospital’s 14-member board, a shift that would effectively hand majority decision-making control to a new bloc.
The dispute carries high financial stakes. According to insiders cited by Citizen TV, the hospital generates monthly revenues estimated at between Sh1.5 billion and Sh1.6 billion.
Board members also say they have faced allegations of financial impropriety during the dispute, including claims of money laundering.
Citizen TV reports it has reviewed a list of 34 vehicles said to be linked to alleged proceeds of money laundering. However, hospital officials maintain that most of the vehicles belong to staff members.
Within the hospital’s leadership, the arrests of Dr. Job Obwaka and Samson Kinyanjui are increasingly being viewed by some insiders as part of a broader struggle over control of the institution.
