MOMBASA– Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has clarified the ownership and governance structure of The Nairobi Hospital, stating that the facility is owned by the Kenya Hospitals Association and operates as a company limited by guarantee.

Speaking during the Health Integration Summit in Mombasa County on Monday, Duale explained that the hospital is member-owned and does not have shareholders, distinguishing it from profit-driven corporate entities.

“The Nairobi Hospital is registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Kenya Hospitals Association. This means it is owned by its members and has no shareholders,” the CS said.

He further noted that the President of Kenya has traditionally served as the Patron of the hospital, a role that reflects the institution’s historic status as one of the country’s leading referral and teaching hospitals.

Duale acknowledged that the hospital has recently faced governance and financial management challenges that have disrupted operations. According to the CS, these issues have affected the availability of essential health commodities and contributed to delays in some critical surgical procedures.

The Health CS revealed that a group of concerned long-serving doctors at the hospital sought the intervention of the President over the situation, prompting the government to direct relevant authorities to investigate the matter.

“The government’s involvement is purely to safeguard the hospital’s integrity and ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare services to Kenyans,” Duale said.

He emphasized that due to its legal structure as a company limited by guarantee, The Nairobi Hospital cannot be sold, acquired, or privatized.

The hospital, one of Kenya’s oldest and most respected private healthcare institutions, serves thousands of patients annually and plays a critical role in providing specialized medical care both nationally and within the region.