Kenyatta National Hospital has moved to end the long-standing practice of detaining patients and bodies over unpaid bills, signalling a shift that could ease the burden on families struggling to clear medical costs.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities on Thursday, Acting KNH Chief Executive Officer Richard Lesiyampe said the hospital has begun putting in place measures to ensure that patients are not held back after treatment due to financial hardship.
He told lawmakers that a Credit Waiver Committee has already been set up to review and clear bills for patients and families who cannot afford to pay, allowing them or their loved ones to leave the facility without added distress.
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The Committee, through its vice-chairperson Duncan Mathenge, urged the hospital to formalise the arrangement into a clear and structured policy to guide such cases.
In response, Lesiyampe said, “Since I took over six months ago, I have been working on measures to ensure that indigent patients are not subjected to further suffering after treatment through detention.”
He assured the legislators that, at present, no patient is being held at Kenyatta National Hospital due to unpaid bills.
His remarks followed concerns raised by lawmakers Yussuf Hassan and Peter Orero, who said they often intervene to help families caught up in such situations.
“I have been calling you seeking assistance in such cases. Do you have a permanent solution to these challenges faced by poor families seeking treatment at KNH?” posed Hassan.
Beyond the billing issue, Lesiyampe highlighted growing pressure on the hospital, pointing to an increasing number of patients and a serious shortage of medical staff. He appealed to the Committee to support a review of the staffing cap set by the Public Service Commission, seeking an increase from 6,000 to 7,800 workers to match demand.
The session also turned to internal concerns over workforce composition, with lawmakers questioning the hospital’s adherence to diversity and inclusion laws.
Members noted that one ethnic community makes up a large share of the workforce.
“Out of the 5,289 staff, one community comprises 27 percent. This is unacceptable for an institution that serves the entire nation,” said Dick Maungu.
Mathenge, alongside Martin Owino, also faulted the hospital for failing to meet the legal requirement on employment of persons living with disabilities.
“You have breached the law by only employing five per cent of persons living with disabilities against the required minimum of five per cent,” said Mathenge.
Lesiyampe acknowledged the concerns, saying the issue of ethnic imbalance has built up over more than 16 years. He added that the hospital is working to address the gaps in future recruitment.
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