Summary
- Nairobi Hospital directors including Dr Job Obwaka have been taken to court after spending the weekend in custody.
- The officials face multiple charges linked to alleged fraudulent registration of hospital members.
- Doctors’ unions and lawyers warn of possible protests and strike action over the arrests.
NAIROBI, Kenya- Directors linked to The Nairobi Hospital appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Monday after spending the weekend in police custody over allegations related to the hospital’s membership registration.
The officials were driven to court early Monday morning ahead of their arraignment.
They had spent a second night in detention on Sunday as police prepared charges.
Charges Against Hospital Directors
Among those detained is Job Lukuru Obwaka, an 83-year-old doctor who serves as a director at the Kenya Hospital Association and an admitting consultant at The Nairobi Hospital.
Also in custody are hospital board vice chairperson Samson Kinyanjui, director Valery Gaya, and former director Chris Bichage.
According to a charge sheet prepared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Obwaka faces up to five charges related to the registration of hospital officials.
Prosecutors allege that between July 1, 2024, and December 4, 2024, he fraudulently procured the registration of 334 people as members of the hospital’s parent entity.
Allegations Linked to Company Records
Investigators claim the registrations were done with intent to deceive and influence the governance of the hospital.
Obwaka is also accused of failing to lodge amended company articles with the registrar as required under the Companies Act.
Additional charges include failure to submit financial statements and failure to ensure the company’s register of members was properly lodged with the Registrar.
The other detained officials are expected to face similar charges.
Doctors’ Union and Lawyers Protest Arrests
The arrests have sparked protests from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Law Society of Kenya.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah said the arrest of the elderly doctor had shocked the medical community.
The union said Obwaka was arrested at his parking bay at the NSSF Building, where his clinic is located, before being taken to Muthaiga Police Station.
Family members also raised concerns about Obwaka’s health, saying the 83-year-old doctor suffers from a heart condition that requires medical attention.
KMPDU and LSK warned they could mobilize mass action if the detained officials are not released, accusing police of ignoring court orders, including anticipatory bail.
