Kenyatta National Hospital has initiated disciplinary proceedings against an employee following complaints of unprofessional conduct during a patient discharge process.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 14, the hospital management acknowledged serious concerns raised by a parent regarding the discharge process in Surgical Ward 4C, apologizing for the distress caused to the affected family.
The management also expressed deep regret over the incident, stating that the reported conduct was unacceptable and does not represent the values or the standard of care we are committed to providing at KNH.
The hospital confirmed it has taken immediate and decisive action by initiating disciplinary proceedings against the officer in question, who is part of the team handling SHA clearance, in accordance with their HR policy.
KNH management also confirmed that the patient has since been discharged and that reimbursement to the family has been initiated.
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"We reiterate our commitment to upholding the highest levels of integrity, fairness, and compassion for all our patients and their families," the statement concluded.
The incident has sparked conversations on social media about patient rights and the quality of service at public healthcare facilities in Kenya.
The controversy began when a parent took to social media to share his ordeal at the hospital's Surgical Ward 4C. According to his account, he had been waiting since the previous day to have his child discharged. Still, he encountered significant obstacles from the SHA (Social Health Authority) officer handling discharges at the 4D office.
The parent alleged that the officer was selectively attending to patients, bypassing the queue to serve individuals she personally knew while leaving others waiting. When he questioned this apparent favoritism, the situation reportedly escalated.
"When I politely told her that what she was doing was unfair, she got angry, banged her office door, and later called me in," he wrote in his social media post.
The parent claimed he was then charged Ksh 2,070 for an alleged extra day of stay, which he promptly paid at the Malipo Center. However, upon returning, he says the officer refused to discharge his child unless he provided a written apology letter stamped by an area Chief.
"Right now, my baby is being held at KNH just because I refused to bow to corruption and humiliation," he had stated in his plea for intervention.
