Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital board chair Olive Mugenda was hard-pressed to explain why Kenyatta University students cannot access the facility for learning purposes.
MPs said it was absurd to deny students from the university access to the facility yet the hospital was established to consolidate training of medical professionals.
Mugenda, who appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on Wednesday, said students are required to apply to the hospital to access training services.
“They have to write to the medical board and the nursing council to use the facility for learning purposes. It is just a procedure,” she told the committee.
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina told the committee the hospital was primarily a training facility for students at conception.
“Why build a hospital on Kenyatta University land and stop the students from enjoying the facility,” he stated.
Committee chair Wamboka Wanami (Bumula) regretted that the hospital has been in operation for three years but students cannot train at the facility.
“The hospital is on Kenya University land but the students cannot train at the facility. If you build on my land, do I need restrictions to access the institution,” posed Wanami.
The Sh8 billion facility became a state corporation under the Health Ministry after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed an order to that effect on January 22, 2019.
The facility is run by a CEO and a board of management made up of a non-executive chairperson appointed by the President.
KUTRRH is the third Health ministry parastatal after Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Kenyatta University students have petitioned the Senate to intervene and ensure they are granted full access to KUTRRH for learning purposes.
The students also want the Senate to recommend that Legal Notice No.4 of 2019 which recognises KUTRRH as a stand-alone parastatal be revoked.
In 2004, Kenyatta University started a School of Health Sciences in order to consolidate the training of medical professionals.
The plan was to use the school to enable students to get exposure to healthcare training.
