Inside the Multi-Billion Scramble to Control Nairobi Hospital

The quiet corridors of The Nairobi Hospital are currently anything but peaceful. An explosive investigative report has exposed what sources call a high-stakes “scramble for control” of the multi-billion-shilling private institution. According to internal sources and recent reports, the name of President William Ruto is being invoked by senior government operatives to demand radical changes in the hospital’s board, sparking fears of a state-sponsored takeover.

The drama reportedly reached a peak on Monday, March 9, 2026, when the Chairman of the Nairobi Hospital Board, Dr. Barcley Onyambu, was allegedly summoned to Harambee House—the Office of the President. Sources claim Onyambu was met by officials associated with the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, and was handed a list of names to fill vacancies on the board. The instruction was clear: the President reportedly wants these changes effected immediately. The justification being used by senior officials is that while the hospital is a private entity, it possesses a “public character” that warrants state interest.

The atmosphere at the hospital has turned into one of “living in fear.” Insiders allege a campaign of intimidation, including threats of arrest over “money laundering” allegations and the deployment of multi-agency teams—including the DCI and KRA—to probe directors. The recent arrest of board member Dr. Job Obwaka is being viewed as a turning point, with board members describing it as a tactic to coerce resignations and create room for state-preferred proxies.

At the heart of the dispute is the hospital’s ownership structure. Currently a non-profit company limited by guarantee under the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA), there is reportedly external pressure to convert it into a company limited by shares. With the hospital earning an estimated Ksh1.5 billion to Ksh1.6 billion monthly, the stakes are astronomical. Opposition figures, led by Justin Muturi, have already raised the alarm, accusing the administration of using “blackmail and threats” to seize one of Kenya’s oldest private medical gems.

As the battle for the boardroom intensifies, the public is left wondering: Is this an attempt to stabilize a “public trust” or a predatory move to capture a private goldmine?