War Memorial Hospital set to reopen after appointment of committee

Nakuru War Memorial Hospital. [File, Standard]

A five-member committee is now in place to reopen the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital as ordered by the Court of Appeal on October 1.

The Nakuru county government took over the hospital, chased away over 300 staff and closed it on January 23, 2024 following a dispute over ownership of the land where it stands.

The office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice has submitted the fifth name to the Deputy Registrar Court of Appeal Linah Akoth.

In a letter addressed to the court, the AG through Senior State Counsel Prisca Adomeyon said it had appointed Peter Okombe, to sit in the committee.

“Kindly note that the AG has appointed Okombe to sit in the Interim Management Committee as per the order of the Court,” submitted Adomeyon.

Judges Mohamed Warsame, Weldon Korir and Paul Gachoka had ordered the immediate reopening of the hospital, under a joint management, headed by the five-member committee.

The three-Judge-bench ordered that after the hospital is reopened, the five would temporarily manage it and be in charge of all the employees and suppliers.

The Judges also ruled that the five would comprise two members from the hospital's private management and two from the county government.

“The AG and the land registry are directed to appoint one member to fill the committee,” the judges ruled.

The court further ordered that the chair of the committee will be one of the members selected from the hospital’s management.

The county government appointed County Secretary Samuel Mwaura and Executive Committee Health Roselyne Wanjiru to the committee.

The hospital appointed their directors; Dr Simon Mwangi and Roger Joslyn, to represent them in the committee.

By October 14, 2024, the AG had not submitted its nominee and Ms Akoth was forced to delay the reopening of the hospital.

The hospital stands on a 25-acre land in Milimani Estate within Nakuru County. It borders a public hospital, State House and a helipad.

The hospital’s management and the county were embroiled in a tussle over management and operation of the hospital.

However, after nine months of chaos, the parties signed a consent for it to be reopened under the joint management.