NAIROBI, Kenya – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered a nationwide overhaul of hospital security protocols and patient care systems following the death of Edward Maingi Ndegwa at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which he described as a “clear system failure.”
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the hospital, Duale condemned the incident and extended condolences to Ndegwa’s family.
“To the family of Edward, we’re sorry. The Ministry of Health extends its condolences to the Ndegwa family for such a sad ordeal,” he said.
The tragic case has sparked public fury and reignited long-standing concerns about negligence, safety, and accountability in Kenya’s public health system.
Systemic Lapses and Urgent Reforms
CS Duale admitted that the case revealed deeper cracks in the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“What happened at Kenyatta is unacceptable. That shows a system failure. I must address a humanitarian crisis,” he said.
He announced immediate reforms, starting with a full security audit of all national referral hospitals.
Hospitals will be required to expand CCTV coverage in all sensitive areas, tighten visitor control protocols, and introduce anonymous call monitoring systems for enhanced accountability.
Under the new directive, all individuals—including police officers—escorting patients must provide personal identification and vehicle registration details upon arrival at hospital facilities.
“We aim to have anonymous calls in hospitals for security purposes,” Duale said. “Everyone, including officers bringing in patients, will leave behind ID and vehicle details.”
443 Patients Still Abandoned in Hospitals
The CS also revealed a disturbing statistic: 443 patients are currently stranded in hospitals despite being medically discharged.
Many, he said, had been abandoned by their families, while others were unable to leave due to financial constraints.
“There are many abandoned patients in our hospitals. Some have no homes, others have no one to receive them. This is a humanitarian crisis,” said Duale.
To address the issue, the ministry has launched a rapid response team tasked with tracing the families of abandoned patients and offering assistance to those without a home.
“We are working to ensure we have a society that is compassionate enough to accept their kin back,” he added.
A Call for Patience and Collective Support
Duale acknowledged the public’s frustration over declining confidence in the healthcare system but urged patience as the ministry rolls out reforms.
“We understand there is low confidence in our hospitals, but we urge you to be patient with us as we restore dignity,” he said. “We remain committed to protecting the life and dignity of all patients.”
The new measures, he confirmed, will be implemented across all hospitals nationwide, not just KNH.
The reforms come at a time when the government faces mounting pressure to overhaul public health systems under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, with growing demand for transparency, patient rights, and institutional accountability.
