Kenya National Hospital (KNH) has launched disciplinary proceedings against a staff member accused of detaining a child over a Ksh 2,000 bribe, following a viral complaint from the child’s parent.
According to KNH, preliminary investigations confirmed that the officer, part of the Social Health Authority (SHA) clearance team, may have violated the hospital’s code of conduct. In an official statement, the hospital emphasized that such behavior does not reflect its values or the standard of care it provides.
“Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the KNH officer in question, in accordance with our HR policy. The conduct reported is unacceptable and does not represent the care we are committed to providing,” KNH Acting CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe stated. He added that the money paid by the parent would be reimbursed immediately.
The incident occurred after the parent raised concerns about alleged corruption, harassment, and favoritism within the hospital’s discharge office. The father reported spending two days trying to secure his child’s discharge, only to be repeatedly ignored while other patients were prioritized.
The situation escalated when the officer allegedly fined the parent Ksh 2,070 for an “extra day of overstaying” and demanded an apology letter stamped by the area chief before releasing the child. The parent insisted he had not caused any disturbance, claiming his only “offense” was questioning discriminatory practices.
Following the public complaint, which gained over 200,000 views on social media platform X, KNH confirmed that the child has been discharged and the refund process initiated. The hospital reassured the public that it is committed to protecting patients from misconduct and maintaining high standards of service.
This case highlights the growing concern over corruption in healthcare and underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in Kenya’s largest referral hospital.
