Health CS Adan Duale on Monday convened a high-level meeting with CEOs of national referral hospitals over security lapses in facilities.
The meeting comes days after recent security lapses at Kenyatta National Hospital that left one patient dead after his throat was slit.
The suspect has since been arrested.
The meeting, according to the Ministry of Health, also sought to discuss other emerging operational challenges in public health facilities.
During the meeting, all referral hospitals were directed to submit detailed security and operational audit reports within seven days, outlining existing gaps, corrective steps taken, and urgent measures required.
Addressing CEOs at Afya House, Duale described the incidents as systemic failures that have eroded public trust and exposed weaknesses in governance and leadership.
He emphasised that hospital CEOs carry direct responsibility for institutional safety, discipline, and operational integrity.
"The CS urged immediate internal reviews of security, emergency preparedness, patient protection, and staff conduct, and requested detailed audit reports within seven days," the statement read.
He stressed that trust must be earned through visible leadership and continuous accountability.
The CS further called for stronger enforcement of staff discipline and improved institutional culture, noting rising public concern over patient care and conduct.
"Hospitals must develop or update crisis communication plans to ensure timely, transparent responses during emergencies," it said.
The CS announced plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior to enhance coordination between hospitals and local security agencies.
"Leadership at the facility level must actively drive these partnerships. While the Ministry remains committed to supporting referral hospitals, this support must be matched by accountability and clear, measurable progress."
On Thursday, Kenyatta National Hospital confirmed the death of a patient under what it described as “unclear circumstances,” raising fresh concerns over patient safety at Kenya’s largest referral facility.
In a statement, KNH said the tragic incident was discovered in the afternoon when hospital staff found the patient lying dead in blood-soaked bedding.
On February 7, a 39-year-old male patient was discovered dead with a slit throat in his bed at the referral hospital.
A postmortem examination revealed that the wound went about three centimetres deep, causing his death.
