The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) over the weekend warned that it would call a strike over what it termed as “mysterious arrests” of senior officials of the Nairobi Hospital.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also raised alarm over the arrest of several officials following the long-running leadership dispute at The Nairobi Hospital, pushing the governance battle into the criminal justice system.
Those detained include elderly doctor Job Obwaka, a director at the Kenya Hospital Association and an admitting consultant at The Nairobi Hospital, and the hospital board vice chairperson Samson Kinyanjui, who are being held at Muthaiga Police Station. Another director, Valery Gaya, is being held at Pangani Police Station alongside former director Chris Bichage.
The arrests mark the latest twist in a bitter struggle that has engulfed the prestigious private hospital, owned by the Kenya Hospital Association, which has operated for nearly 70 years. Rival board factions, government interests and medical professionals have been embroiled in disputes over leadership positions, financial management, and the legitimacy of the members’ register. The crisis follows court orders halting the hospital’s 2025 annual general meeting after rival factions challenged both the register and the meeting’s convening process.
Law Society of Kenya vice president Mwaura Kabata, representing the three officials, said the arrests came despite anticipatory bail orders from the High Court in Kibera. He accused police of attempting to force the officials to resign to enable unnamed parties to seize control of the hospital.
Officials from KMPDU, LSK, human rights activists and family members went to Muthaiga Police Station demanding answers from officers in charge over the detention of Obwaka and Kinyanjui. KMPDU said Obwaka was arrested on Saturday morning from his private clinic while attending to patients.
KMPDU and LSK in a statement warned that they would consider mass action including strike if the detained officials are not released by midnight, accusing police of violating court orders, including anticipatory bail.
MG/abj/APA