Mwai Kibaki Referral Hospital will now operate as an independent Level 6 hospital after serving as an annex facility under Kenyatta National Hospital for seven years.
The 500-bed facility, which previously operated as Kenyatta National Othaya Annex Hospital, was officially granted a licence to operate as a referral hospital on September 20, 2024, by President Dr William Ruto.
The hospital offers both inpatient and outpatient services to patients drawn from 11 counties within the Mount Kenya region and beyond.
Speaking during the official handing over ceremony, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga lauded both the management of the facility and Kenyatta National Hospital for ensuring a smooth transition, terming it a major milestone in the country’s healthcare system.
Dr Oluga reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the facility through continued support in human resource capacity and provision of modern diagnostic equipment, aimed at addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“We are here to ensure that the transition is complete so that this hospital can stand alone as a Level Six hospital. We have just finalized the handover so that everything can now be managed independently by the Board of this facility,” said Dr Oluga.
He noted that the hospital’s absorption of Social Health Authority (SHA) funding had been impressive, with a rejection rate of only one percent compared to the national average of six percent.
Dr Oluga further revealed that SHA had already paid out Sh506 million out of Sh648 million in claims submitted by the facility.
“I can confirm that this hospital has submitted claims worth Sh648 million, out of which Sh506 million has already been paid. The remaining claims are not yet due for payment. In any insurance system globally, payment is made within 90 days. There is therefore no debt as is being alleged,” he said.
He dismissed recent reports claiming that SHA owes health facilities billions of shillings, terming them misleading.
According to him, while there are pending claims, none have exceeded the 90-day processing window provided for under the SHA Act.
“As of now, we have paid 84 per cent of all claims. The remaining 16 per cent have not been paid because they are either still under review or not due. There is no hospital owed beyond the 90-day period,” he added.
The PS also confirmed that the government is working to clear a Sh33 billion debt inherited from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He said the transition from NHIF to SHA was aimed at improving efficiency and ensuring that Kenyans access affordable and quality healthcare without resorting to public fundraising for medical treatment.
“The NHIF debt stands at Sh33 billion, not Sh27 billion, and we have already started paying it. That debt accumulated because the previous system was not functioning optimally,” he said.
He added that the government is prioritising payments to facilities owed less than Sh10 million as part of the debt clearance strategy.
“But for SHA, there is no single facility owed beyond 90 days. Any delays are due to claims that are either rejected or still under verification,” he explained.
The event also marked the launch of the hospital’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which will guide its development over the next five years.
The facility has recently upgraded its medical equipment, including the acquisition of its first CT scan machine last year and a new state-of-the-art MRI machine. It has also expanded dialysis services to meet rising patient demand.
Other leaders present included Kenyatta National Hospital Board Chair Dr Abbas Gullet, Mwai Kibaki Referral Hospital Board Chair Gen. (Rtd.) Robert Kibochi, KNH CEO Richard Lesiyampe, Mwai Kibaki Referral Hospital CEO Dr Peter Muiruri, Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina Mathenge, and Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina.
By Samuel Maina and Patience Wangechi
