Fight for tender billions at Nairobi Hospital behind CEO’s sacking, court told
Intense fight to control billions, vested interests, sometimes mutual or conflicting between the management and the board of the Nairobi Hospital has been laid bare.
The intriguing fights, mostly clandestinely and conveniently executed through board resolutions or administrative decisions explains incessant changes of the hospital’s senior management.
The institution’s ousted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Allan Pamba attributes his forced exit to multi-million tenders including the newly opened 100 bed capacity Covid-19 hospital launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta valued at Sh1.1billion.
Through court filings, Pamba who is demanding Sh218.8million in compensation for unfair dismissal links his ouster to his awarding the construction contract to China Wu Yi instead of Quest Civil Engineering Limited.
China Wu Yi had initially been recommended for the job by hospital’s tender committee owing to what they termed as “stronger technical capabilities.”
However, the board initiated machinations to overturn the award through unorthodox means in favour of Quest Civil Engineering Limited, a move that Pamba opposed.
Further, Pamba declined to ‘create a need’ for a fully funded Sh118 million tender for the installation of a new security system for the hospital since there was an existing efficiently functioning system.
According to his submissions in court, the board was pushing the ‘unprioritised’ security tender be awarded to Opticom Kenya.
Further, the sacked CEO claims he was targeted after he declined prequalifying Diro Advocates LLP, a law firm to the panel of advocates representing the hospital.
Pamba also says he opposed requests by some unidentified board members to hire Earstar (EA) Limited for debt collection services.
The hospital board is chaired by Irungu Ndirangu.
Pamba was appointed as the hospital CEO on March 4, 2020 and sacked on October 2, 2020 when he was summoned to a special meeting of the hospital board and asked to step aside despite his removal having been listed as an agenda item for discussion.
“In view of the foregoing, the claimant (Dr Pamba) submits that the respondents’ conduct and his termination was unlawful and constitute a violation of the applicable provisions of the Employment Act , the International Labour Organisation Convention, the Nairobi Hospital Human Resource Manual on Probation and his employment contract,” a petition filed in court reads in part.
He is being represented by Senior Counsel Paul Muite.
His predecessor Gordon Odundo was unceremoniously forced out in April 2019 in a manner shrouded by bid to control the hospital cash tap.
Pamba had served for only six months before his sacking out of his three years contract.
Thus, he is seeking compensation for salary and other benefits he would have drawn during his remaining contractual period including Sh117million salary for remaining contractual period, Sh11.7million leave allowance and Sh150,000 telephone call allowance.
Others include Sh13.5million car allowance, Sh3million for home security and family medical cover of Sh15million.
He is also seeking an additional Sh36million as salary compensation for 12 months.
In July this year, United Nations (UN) partnered with Nairobi Hospital to set up a Sh1.billion ($10m) Covid-19 treatment facility in Nairobi, the country’s capital.
The new facility will accept the UN’s workers and family members in Africa. Apart from UN patients, the facility will also cater to non-UN patients.
The facility will house an operating theatre, laboratory, radiology and physiology services. It will have an initial capacity of 150 beds, including 25 intensive-care and 50 high-dependency units.
The over 100-bed facility, with 15 ICU, 45 HDU and 40 ward beds is intended to reduce the burden of caring for Covid-positive UN personnel and partners.
During signing of the deal, UN Nairobi office director-general Zainab Hawa Bangura said the new facility “will reduce the burden of caring for Covid-positive United Nations personnel and partners on the Kenyan health care system.”
Construction of the Covid-19 facility started on 20 July this year.
