Senator Hamida Kibwana has called for urgent answers over a leadership dispute at Nairobi Hospital, warning that the disagreement could disrupt services at the facility.

The concerns came amid ongoing wrangles at the hospital and its parent body, the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA).

Rising under Standing Order 53(1), Kibwana requested a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. She asked the committee to investigate the ongoing governance issues, regulatory oversight, and their potential impact on service delivery.

“The Nairobi Hospital has been affected by sustained internal disputes touching on the conduct of the board of elections; the legitimacy of the office holders; the exercise of trustees’ powers; and major financial decisions, including proposed borrowing and capital expenditure,” she said.

Kibwana flags hospital risk

Kibwana warned that the dispute could undermine the hospital’s ability to deliver essential healthcare services, including patient care.

She urged the committee to clarify the current governance and administrative arrangements at both the hospital and KHA to assess whether management is stable.

She further sought clarification on whether the dispute has affected service delivery, patient care, staffing and overall operations and what mitigation measures have been put in place and subsequently asked the committee to ascertain whether patients, staff and the public are adequately protected from any adverse effects arising from the leadership wrangles.

The lawmaker further called for scrutiny of the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, and other relevant bodies. She said these institutions must ensure that private hospitals maintain patient safety, quality care, and ethical standards, even during internal disputes.

Kibwana questioned whether the current legal and regulatory framework governing major private health institutions is strong enough to guarantee transparency, accountability, and continuity of care.

Nairobi Hospital is considered one of Kenya’s leading medical facilities. Any disruption in leadership could affect not only service delivery but also public confidence in private healthcare institutions.

On Monday, March 23, 2026, court allowed the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to withdraw charges against three hospital officials who had been accused of failing to lodge financial statements.