The feud between Nairobi Hospital and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) over the controversial construction of a footbridge between the hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital has now taken a new twist.

While the Nairobi Hospital has threatened to go to court to stop implementation of the project on grounds that the bridge encroaches on some of its sensitive installations, Kura on the other hand has told the hospital to go ahead and file the case in court.

Kura said it had done everything as required by the law before the construction commenced, and it is prepared to face the hospital in court.

“Those guys are jokers,” John Cheboi, Kura Chief Corporate Communications officer told People Daily last evening.

“We have done our part as required by the law by informing the Office of the President, Internal Security and even brought in the nuclear authority to establish whether indeed the radioactive rays have leaked beyond the said perimeter wall, and gave a clean bill of health,” Cheboi added.

A statement by Kura on Thursday indicated the project had met all the requirements and will go on.

“Public safety is at the core of our mandate and we cannot stop undertaking a project which saves lives of the public,” added Cheboi.

The move came after Nairobi hospital through Chief Executive Officer James Nyamongo called for the suspension of the construction of the footbridge on grounds that it exposes the public to potential risks of radioactive exposure and endangers the safety of the hospital’s patients and staff.

According to him, the bridge, which is next to, the Cancer Treatment Centre, has radioactive materials that can endanger the lives of patients and the public if exposed.

“We are concerned about the safety of radioactive materials fitted in our Cancer Treatment Centre,” Nyamongo said during a media site visit of the footbridge yesterday.

“Indeed, we have demonstrated that the bridge can be moved several metres lower or higher along the road, reducing the risks cited on its present termination point. They should relocate the bridge, 50 metres on either side,” he said. 

Consultative meetings

Since February, the hospital has engaged in a series of consultative meetings with government representatives, including Eng Silas Kinoti, Kura Director General, and Prof Paul Maringa, the Principal Secretary for Infrastructure.

Nyamongo argues that Kura and the Ministry of Infrastructure failed to conduct stakeholder consultations on the project as required under the law and also ignored the advice of the nuclear regulatory agency, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) regarding the safety of the radioactive facilities.

“Furthermore, the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has not been shared with the hospital, which is a key stakeholder in the project,” Nyamongo further divulged.

Already the hospital’s lawyers, Triple OK Law Advocates, have notified Kura of the hospital’s intention to seek legal redress. “The said construction has commenced contrary to the provisions of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (no. 8 of 1999) for failing to engage in public participation and obtaining the views from stakeholders who are likely to be affected by the project,” the advocates stated in a letter to Kura.