By MKT Reporter
A political storm is brewing around one of Kenya’s most prominent private medical institutions after Justin Bedan Muturi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kenya, accused President William Ruto and senior government officials of orchestrating a plan to take control of The Nairobi Hospital.
In a press statement, Muturi claimed that the hospital, which has served Kenyans for nearly seven decades and is approaching its 70th anniversary, has been under sustained pressure from state actors over the past year.
The hospital operates as an entity limited by guarantee under the Companies Act and has long been regarded as one of the country’s leading private healthcare institutions.
According to Muturi, the alleged campaign has been carried out through Felix Koskei, the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, who he claims has overseen a series of intimidation tactics directed at the hospital’s Board of Management. Muturi said the pressure has been exerted either directly or through the board chairman, Dr Barkley Mogere Onyambu, a consultant gynecologist and elder in the Seventh-day Adventist Church based in Karen.
Muturi alleged that the conflict intensified around March 25, 2025, when the board was forced into a controversial restructuring that saw seven members co-opted and seven others removed.
He claimed the changes followed sustained pressure and political interference.
The dispute later drew in several state agencies after Dorcus Oduor of the Office of the Attorney General of Kenya allegedly directed an inquiry into the affairs of the hospital despite it being a private institution. The inquiry reportedly involved multiple agencies including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Financial Reporting Centre, the Registrar of Companies, and the Assets Recovery Agency.
Muturi further alleged that several hospital directors were summoned to the headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, where investigators reportedly issued summonses that introduced police officers as inspectors under the Companies Act. The investigation team was said to have been led by SP Peace Maithya and Chief Inspector Martin Munene. Muturi claimed that the process included raids on the homes of some directors in what he described as attempts to pressure them into resigning.
The directors responded by seeking legal protection and obtained anticipatory bail orders from the courts, which remain in force. At the same time, a planned Annual General Meeting of the Kenya Hospital Association was halted by the courts pending determination of an ongoing legal dispute.
Muturi said that because several directors had ceased holding office for various reasons, the board later co-opted additional members to serve temporarily until the AGM could be held. Among those reportedly brought in were Moses Ondaba, a director at State House; Sylvester Kasuku, an adviser to the president and former director-general of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority; as well as Philip Kisia, Chris Oanda, and Lekek Chebii.
The controversy escalated again on March 7, 2026, when Muturi alleged that the board chairman received an intimidating phone call from two officials working in the Office of the Head of Public Service — Dr Linda Musumba and Collins Kiprono. According to Muturi, the officials instructed the chairman to facilitate the resignation of three directors to create vacancies for three individuals allegedly proposed by the state.
The three individuals named in the alleged request were Mohammed Warsame, a judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya; industrialist Narendra Raval, founder of the Devki Group; and businessman Jackson Chebet Kiplimo, associated with Stabex International Ltd.
Muturi claimed that during a subsequent summons to Harambee House on March 9, the chairman was warned that failure to create the vacancies could result in directors being arrested and arraigned in court on allegations of money-laundering offences. He said the directors rejected the demand, insisting that they would wait for the courts to determine the legality of the delayed AGM.
Muturi further alleged that the Assets Recovery Agency had written to the National Transport and Safety Authority seeking restrictions on vehicles belonging to several hospital directors and managers. He questioned whether such actions were justified, asking whether professionals should be penalized for owning vehicles even when acquired through legitimate loans.
In his statement, Muturi warned that the alleged events raised serious questions about the protection of private institutions in Kenya. He argued that if a private hospital could face such pressure, other independent organizations could be vulnerable to similar interference.
He concluded by reminding the government that respect for the rule of law must apply equally to everyone and that political power is temporary and should be exercised for the broader good of the country rather than used to suppress independent institutions or minority interests.