Questions have emerged after reports indicated that the name of President William Ruto was mentioned during several meetings linked to attempts to influence leadership changes at The Nairobi Hospital.
According to findings by Citizen TV, the President’s name reportedly came up in discussions where senior government operatives were said to be pushing for changes within the hospital’s board, raising concerns about pressure and an ongoing struggle for control of the multi-billion shilling medical facility.
Sources familiar with the situation said that on Monday, March 9, 2026, the chairperson of the Nairobi Hospital board, Dr Barcley Onyambu, was summoned to Harambee House, which hosts the Office of the President.
During that meeting, he was allegedly instructed to create three vacancies within the hospital’s board.
According to the sources, Onyambu was also given specific names of individuals who were expected to fill the positions and was reportedly told that the changes needed to be completed within the week.
Individuals said to be present at the meeting were described as officials associated with the office of the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
The discussions are said to have taken place at a time when tensions within the hospital’s leadership have already been high, with insiders claiming that disagreements within the board have been ongoing for more than a year.
Some members of the board have reportedly been operating under pressure during this period. Sources have described an environment of fear, saying that some officials felt intimidated and worried about possible legal action against them.
One of the moments that insiders point to as significant in the dispute is the arrest of Dr Job Obwaka, which some believe marked a turning point in the conflict surrounding the hospital’s leadership.
There have also been claims that other meetings discussing the management and future direction of the hospital took place at both Harambee House and State House.
During one of those meetings, a senior official was quoted by sources as saying that even though Nairobi Hospital is a private institution, it still has a public character because of the role it plays in providing medical services to the public.
Internal communication from the hospital has also come into focus. A memo dated February 6, 2026, issued by Nairobi Hospital Company Secretary Gilbert Nyamweya, announced the co-option of Dr Sylvester Okumu Kasuku and Mr Moses Agoi Ondaba as members of the board.
Sources claimed that the two names had been forwarded from Harambee House.
Insiders have further alleged that there has been pressure to push through as many as nine changes within the 14-member board.
Such a move would effectively shift the balance of power and allow those behind the changes to gain majority influence over board decisions and the direction of the hospital.
The Nairobi Hospital operates under the Kenya Hospital Association, which functions like a membership organization with more than 3,000 members.
The association is structured as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act, a structure that means it does not operate as a profit-sharing company.
However, the hospital itself is believed to generate significant income. Insiders estimate that its monthly earnings range between Ksh1.5 billion and Ksh1.6 billion, making the leadership and ownership structure of the facility highly valuable.
Part of the dispute is said to revolve around proposals to convert the Kenya Hospital Association into a company limited by shares.
Such a change would significantly alter the ownership structure and potentially open the door to different forms of control over the hospital.
At the same time, some board members claim they have faced threats of arrest linked to allegations of money laundering.
A list of 34 vehicles said to be connected to suspected proceeds of money laundering has also surfaced, although the hospital has maintained that many of those vehicles belong to staff members.
Within the board, the arrests of Dr Job Obwaka and Samson Kinyanjui are being interpreted by some insiders as part of an effort aimed at gaining control of the hospital’s leadership and operations.
