Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued an update on the official opening and functioning of the National Police Service Level IV Hospital (NPSH) in Mbagathi, which has stalled following a back-and-forth over final payment and who is supposed to pay.
According to 2023/2024 audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, Ksh833,628,135 was yet to be paid to the contractor at the time of the audit in November 2024 and included as a pending bill. This was after the initial Ksh400 million was paid.
Construction and equipping of the NPS Mbagathi Hospital were done under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence at a cost of Ksh1,233,628,135 and were completed in the 2022/2023 financial year.
“However, as at the time of audit in November 2024, despite handing over of the hospital having been done and commencement of recruitment of hospital staff, the hospital was not in operation. In the circumstances, value for money for funds spent on the project has not been realised,” read part of the audit report.
CS Duale, in a statement on Wednesday, August 6, however, said that he hosted a delegation from NPS led by Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli for a high-level consultative engagement on the operationalization of the hospital.
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He was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, and Acting CEO of the Digital Health Agency, Engineer Anthony Lenayara.
Duale says NPS Hospital will benefit over 100,000 officers
According to the CS, the facility will serve over 100,000 officers and their families once operational, “advancing the Government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda by expanding access to specialized care.”
Duale further said that the discussions centered on fast-tracking the hospital’s opening, exploring efficient management models and enhancing the welfare of NPS personnel through improved healthcare access.
“I reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to equipping the facility under the National Equipment Services Programme (NESP), ensuring consistent access to modern medical technology. The NPS commended the Ministry’s ongoing health sector reforms aimed at delivering quality, affordable healthcare for all Kenyans, regardless of location or income,” Duale said.
The NPS Hospital at Mbagathi has a capacity of 150 beds to serve police officers together with their families. It also has a parking facility for four ambulances, 20 staff vehicles, and 50 vehicles belonging to the public.
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KDF hands over two hospitals
Speaking during the handing over of the Wanini Kireri Magereza and NPS Hospitals by the Kenya Defense Forces to the Ministry of Interior back in May 2024, Duale, who was the Ministry of Defense CS at the time, said the hospital is poised to provide comprehensive health care to the police, their families and the community.
“The journey to this momentous occasion has been marked by dedication perseverance and collaboration between Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), NPS, Interior Ministry and the government of Kenya,” Duale said.
On its part, the Wanini Kireri Magereza Hospital contains a 150-bed capacity meant to serve officers from the Kenya Prisons, their families, and members of the public on a referral basis.
The facility was named after the first woman commandant of the training facility Wanini Kireri, who passed away in May 2022.
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