Ministry of Health Moves to Strengthen Patient Safety in Referral Hospitals Following KNH Incident
๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข, ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐โ The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale,ย ย visited Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and announced a series of immediate measures aimed at strengthening patient safety, accountability, and quality of care across all national referral hospitals.
This follows the unfortunate incident at KNH onย , 2025, which led to the loss of a young Kenyanโs life and raised serious concerns about patient welfare and hospital security.
Speaking during a press briefing at the hospital, the Cabinet Secretary said he had convened a meeting with Chief Executive Officers of all national referral facilities to review the gaps and agree on urgent reforms to restore public trust in the health system.
โAs a Ministry, we have a duty to safeguard the lives, rights, and dignity of all patients. We are committed to ensuring that such a tragedy does not happen again,โ said CS Duale.
Among the key decisions announced was the enforcement of stricter access controls in referral hospitals. Effective immediately, only two visitors per patient will be allowed, and all visitors will undergo mandatory screening upon entry. This, the CS noted, is aimed at enhancing safety and order within hospital environments.
In addition, the Ministry will roll out a comprehensive quality assurance protocol across all national referral hospitals. This will include:
โข Routine patient safety rounds
โข Strengthened systems for addressing complaints
โข Anonymous feedback tools for both patients and staff
โข Ongoing training for healthcare workers on patient rights and safety standards
The Cabinet Secretary also directed hospitals to work closely with the Ministry of Interior, chiefs, and community leaders to support abandoned patients. This includes tracing families, facilitating dignified discharges, and placing individuals in appropriate care institutions when reintegration is not possible.
โThese efforts are about restoring dignity in care and reinforcing accountability. Every patient deserves to be treated with compassion, professionalism, and respect,โ he added.
The press briefing was attended by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, alongside Chief Executive Officers of national referral hospitals including Dr. William Sigilai (KNH), Dr. Richard Lesiyampe (JOOTRH), Dr. Zainab Gura (KUTRRH), Dr. Peter Muiruri (MKTRH), Dr. Nderi Lawrence (MNTRH), Dr. Philip Kirwa (MTRH), and Dr. Shikuku Kibet (SITRH).
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement in service delivery, noting that the safety and trust of the public remain top priorities.