Kenya’s public health sector is facing fresh scrutiny after a fact-finding visit by the National Assembly Health Committee to Kenyatta National Hospital exposed deep-rooted failures at the country’s largest referral facility.
The committee, chaired by Seme MP James Nyikal, toured KNH on Monday, acknowledging some ongoing improvements but raising serious alarms over congestion, equipment breakdowns, and a completely non-functional oxygen plant.
“This oxygen plant is actually a major issue. It is not operational. It is not producing even a litre of oxygen a day,” Nyikal told journalists after the tour. “The truth is, as of now, Kenyatta does not have an oxygen plant.”
He described the situation as unacceptable, pointing to possible failures across procurement, design, tendering, supervision, and payment processes. The committee has pledged to follow up with the relevant ministries to establish accountability and determine who dropped the ball.
Beyond the oxygen crisis, cancer treatment equipment at the hospital is also reported to be non-functional, a devastating blow to patients who travel from across the country seeking specialized care.
KNH Acting CEO Dr. Richard Leyisampe confirmed the hospital serves approximately 700 oxygen-dependent patients daily, currently sourcing supply externally and from sister institutions like KU Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The revelations are a direct embarrassment to President William Ruto’s administration. While Ruto has repeatedly promised to transform Kenya into an economic powerhouse comparable to Singapore, the state of the country’s flagship hospital tells a starkly different story.
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