Mbagathi Hospital suspends services to prisoners over Sh12 million debt
Management noted that despite repeated follow-ups, no settlement was made, leaving the institution unable to meet its operational needs
Mbagathi County Referral Hospital has suspended admission of sick inmates over a Sh12 million debt owed by the Kenya Prison Service.
According to sources, the suspension of services affects those seeking to be attended to from various prisons in Nairobi began early this month.
Records from the hospital indicate that the debt owed to them by KPS is linked to treatments provided to inmates over several years.
The Level 5 hospital’s management noted that despite repeated follow-ups, no settlement was made, leaving the institution unable to meet its operational needs.
Officials from the hospital explained that the failure to clear the obligations had strained the hospital’s ability to purchase essential supplies, forcing the suspension.
“This letter serves as a formal notification that we are suspending our services to prisoners effective Monday, 4th August, 2025,” the Mbagathi County Referral Hospital stated in a notice.
However, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Arandu pleaded with the management of the hospital to reconsider its decision as they plan to resolve the issue.
“A kind appeal to your institution to lift the directive on suspension of services while KPS and the State Department for Correctional Services work on modalities of settling the outstanding obligations,” Aranduh pleaded.
As of November 2024, the State Department for Correctional Services had already accumulated arrears of Sh6.7 million for medical services rendered between July 2018 and November 2022.
Separately, Narok County Referral Hospital issued a public notice announcing its intention to dispose of 9 unclaimed bodies.
A notice over the weekend gave a fourteen-day deadline for families or representatives to claim the remains.
The hospital noted that after the deadline lapses, it will seek authority from the court to dispose of the bodies.
“Narok County Referral Hospital (NCRH) hereby notifies the general public of Nine (9) unclaimed bodies lying at its Farewell Home. Pursuant to the Public Health Act, Cap 242, and the Public Health (Public Mortuaries) Rules, 1991, relatives are requested to identify and collect the bodies within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof. Failure to which the hospital will seek authority from the court to dispose of them,” the notice stated.
The hospital noted that the unclaimed bodies are available at the NCRH farewell home.
