The move of Mama Margaret Kenyatta Children’s Hospital from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to county government control has caused a big argument among county leaders.
One County Assembly member promised to confront Governor Johnson Sakaja about this.
Governor Sakaja reopened the 548-bed hospital in a tense event where police and rowdy youths clashed.
Governor Sakaja went ahead with the reopening even after receiving a protest letter sent to the Office of the President on June 12, 2024.
In the letter, Kariobangi North MCA Joel Munuve worried about how slum residents might suffer if the hospital transfer happens.
The main worry is if the county government can keep up the same good service as KNH.
Munuve’s letter was sent to the Ministry of Health, KNH, and Nairobi County’s Health Executive Committee, showing that people prefer KNH because other county hospitals like Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and Pumwani Maternity Hospital have had problems in the past.
Nairobi County said Munuve is playing politics by making these claims and that under Governor Sakaja, healthcare will get better.
Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria said Munuve should use the County Assembly to talk about these concerns or ask the health department for answers, not cause fights in public.
The hospital, once called Mathare-Korogocho Hospital, was built by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and changed to honor former First Lady Mama Margaret Kenyatta, who worked to make healthcare better in Kenya.
At the recent reopening, fights broke out between different groups, and the police had to step in.
Munuve said he was upset when he couldn’t get into the event, even though he’s the local MCA, which added to the chaos.
