Attack on Hospital Amid Land Dispute, Handover to Private Management

A group of goons attacked War Memorial Hospital in Nakuru on Thursday afternoon, shortly after the facility was handed over to the private management by the police.

The hospital, which is located in the posh Milimani estate, has been under the control of the Nakuru County Government for the last nine days, following a land dispute.

The county government claimed that the hospital management had fraudulently extended the lease for the 25 acres of land that the facility stands on, which allegedly expired in April 2021.

However, the hospital management obtained three court orders from Justice Millicent Odeny on January 23, 25 and 30, directing the county government to vacate the premises and allow the hospital to resume its operations.

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi led officers to escort the staff to the facility and ensured they had taken over. He also allowed the media, the State Counsel Alex Muthuri and the hospital lawyer Chomba Kamau to inspect the hospital.

Some of the departmental rooms were locked, while others had been forced in. The hospital Chief Executive Officer Patricia Musale confirmed that a DVR machine that recorded footage during the January 23 takeover was missing.

"We are yet to check all the rooms and confirm if all our equipment and machines are intact and operational," she said.

However, shortly after Ndanyi left the premises, a gang of about 200 youths, armed with crude weapons, stormed the facility and chased away the staff who had resumed duty.

"They warned that they would harm us if we did not leave the hospital. They forced their way in, and we fear for its security. The hospital has equipment and machines worth over Sh200 million," Musale said.

The goons also vandalized some of the property and equipment in the hospital, and looted some of the items.

The motive of the attack is not clear, but some sources allege that the goons were hired by some politicians who have interests in the land dispute.

The police have launched investigations into the incident and are expected to submit a report within two weeks.

The hospital management has appealed to the government to provide adequate security to the facility and to respect the court orders.

The hospital, which was established in 1921, is one of the oldest and largest private hospitals in Nakuru, offering a range of services to the residents.

The hospital has been closed since January 23, 2024 affecting the health care of thousands of patients who rely on it.

The hospital management has also incurred losses of millions of shillings due to the closure and the attack.

The hospital staff have also been affected by the closure and the attack, as they have not been paid their salaries and have been living in fear.

The hospital management has vowed to continue fighting for their rights and to resume their services as soon as possible.