Nairobi, Kenya – The Ministry of Health is facing mounting pressure to address the deteriorating state of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which has in recent months been plagued by failing infrastructure, inadequate services, and rising security concerns.
Speaking before the Senate’s Standing Committee on Energy on Thursday, September 25, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah urged lawmakers to demand swift reforms to restore KNH’s position as the country’s top referral facility.
“The hospital is expected to uphold the highest standards of healthcare, yet its current state is characterised by unhygienic conditions, overcrowded and poorly ventilated wards, long queues at essential service points, inadequate facilities for persons with disabilities, and lax security that has led to two murders within the wards in the last six months,” Omtatah said.
The senator called for a detailed report explaining why critical services such as CT scans, dialysis, and radiotherapy are either defective or unavailable, forcing patients to seek expensive care in private hospitals. He also pushed for clear strategies on equipment maintenance, investment in medical technology, and stronger accountability systems.
Omtatah further insisted that the hospital’s leadership and law enforcement agencies be held accountable while urging stronger coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority to streamline services across all referral hospitals.
The debate comes two months after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced sweeping reforms at KNH and other major facilities following two murders inside the hospital within a span of six months. During a visit on July 28, Duale outlined measures including installation of CCTV cameras, stricter visitor screening, limited patient visits, and routine safety checks.
Hospitals were also directed to enhance patient dignity through anonymous feedback systems, staff training on patient rights, and partnerships with the Ministry of Interior and community leaders to support abandoned patients. “As a Ministry, we must safeguard the lives, rights, and dignity of all patients. We are committed to ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again,” Duale said.
Despite these directives, concerns remain that implementation has been slow, leaving patients vulnerable and undermining public confidence in the country’s largest referral hospital.
