Kenyatta National Hospital is on the receiving end of criticism after it revealed a plan to build a private hospital valued at Ksh15 billion.
According to a public notice posted in the local dailies, Kenya’s largest referral hospital intends to build a seven-storey building with 300-bed capacity that will, in return, fund public services at KNH.
“Kenyatta National Hospital Board(KNHB) now wishes to have a developed separate private hospital under a Public-Private Partnership(PPP) that will serve fee-paying private patients, hence providing a source of additional funding to support the main public hospital,” reads in part a Request For Qualification(RFQ) notice.
The project, which will sit on 3.6 hectares, is expected to be completed within 5 years.
The plan, however, has irked key players in the health sector as Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union Secretary-General (SG) Ouma Oluga downplayed the proposal.
According to the SG, the move was nothing short of denying Kenyans fair use of their taxes.
“Kenya’s largest public hospital wants to build a private hospital. Doesn’t even make sense but this is the kind of nonsense that denies Kenyans fair use of taxes to solve health needs,” tweeted the SG.
Kenya's largest public hospital wants to build a private hospital.
Doesn't even make sense but this is the kind of nonsense that denies Kenyans fair use of taxes to solve health needs.
KNH to put up Sh15bn seven-storey private hospital https://t.co/HdefOI8iYn via @BD_Africa
— Dr. Ouma Oluga (@fnoluga) October 14, 2019
City Lawyer Donald Kipkorir also waded into the matter saying the board’s decision was off the target.
“.. KNH can’t build a Private Hospital when it can’t even deliver on its public-funded mandate…” tweeted Kipkorir.
The feasibility study of the project is reportedly being undertaken currently by the Chinese company, Ernst & Young.
The investor of the project will construct and own it for some years as he recovers the construction costs, make a profit before transferring it to the state.