The Nairobi Hospital Board of Management chairman Dr Barcley Onyambu has dismissed reports suggesting that the premier healthcare institution is facing a crisis.
Onyambu insisted that the hospital remains stable, fully operational and committed to delivering quality healthcare services.
In a statement issued in response to media reports alleging corruption, financial mismanagement and victimisation of employees by senior hospital officials, Onyambu said the concerns cited in the reports had been misrepresented and did not reflect the position of the hospital's medical staff or leadership.
He clarified that the issues highlighted originated from a requisition submitted by an individual member of the Admitting Staff Association (ASA) and should not be interpreted as the collective position of doctors at the institution.
“It is important to clarify that the concerns referenced in the article arise from a requisition submitted by an individual member of the Admitting Staff Association (ASA). These views do not represent the position of The Nairobi Hospital staff, nor do they constitute the position of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC),” Onyambu said.
He said portraying the concerns as having been raised by doctors generally was misleading and failed to distinguish between individual opinions and institutional positions.
The hospital's response follows reports claiming that doctors had accused senior officials of corruption, misuse of funds and unfair treatment of employees, allegations that sparked debate about the state of governance at one of Kenya’s leading private healthcare facilities.
However, Onyambu maintained that The Nairobi Hospital has established governance mechanisms capable of handling any concerns raised by stakeholders through the appropriate channels.
“The Nairobi Hospital has well-established governance structures and processes through which concerns may be raised, deliberated upon, and addressed appropriately. It is, therefore, inaccurate to characterise an individual governance matter as evidence of an institutional crisis,” he stated.
He reassured patients, staff and partners that clinical services remain unaffected and that efforts aimed at strengthening governance and accountability are continuing as planned.
The board chairman noted that for more than seven decades, The Nairobi Hospital has built a reputation as one of the country’s most trusted healthcare institutions, serving thousands of patients from Kenya and the wider region.
Onyambu further rejected what he termed attempts to portray ongoing governance processes as signs of instability within the institution.
“Accordingly, we reject attempts to conflate individual views with institutional positions or to portray ongoing governance processes as evidence of institutional instability,” he said.
He emphasised that public confidence in healthcare institutions is critical and called for accurate and balanced reporting on matters affecting the hospital.
“Public confidence in healthcare institutions is of
paramount importance and should be informed by reporting that is accurate,
balanced and appropriately contextualised,” Onyambu said.
The hospital also warned that it would take appropriate action to protect its reputation from what it described as false and defamatory claims.
