Medical students from Kenyatta University have a reason to smile after the Senate issued an ultimatum to the university and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) over a longstanding standoff that has denied them crucial clinical training.
In a meeting held at Bunge Towers on Thursday, July 24, the Senate Committee on Health issued a stern directive to both the university and hospital administrations, giving them until September 2025 to resolve the dilemma that has forced students to seek alternative placements in Kiambu and Thika despite the facility being just adjacent to the University.
Senator Jackson Mandago, the Committee Chair, revealed that the welfare of the students must take precedence over bureaucratic wrangles.
“Let's be very clear: the welfare of these students is not negotiable. This is not about who runs what, it’s about producing qualified medical professionals for our nation,” Mandago stated directly to the councils.
The conflict between the university and the hospital stems from institutional disagreements regarding access and management rights at KUTRRH.
Despite the hospital’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and its proximity to the university, KU medical students have remained locked out of its facilities for training.
KUTRRH Board Chairman Kembi Gitura acknowledged the absurdity of the situation, despite the hospital's legal autonomy.
“I was appointed chair of a board guided by existing legal instruments. But I fully agree that this is not about personalities. It is about ensuring our students receive the training they deserve,” Gitura said.
To resolve the situation, the Senate Committee called for an immediate truce in internal disputes and instructed the university’s Vice-Chancellor and the hospital’s CEO to engage in structured mediation under a Joint Implementation Committee.
“We are seeing signs of distraction and internal competition that must stop now,” Mandago ordered.
The Senate also directed that a comprehensive progress report be submitted by September, regardless of whether a formal summons is issued.
It remains ironic that the university has locked its medical students out of the facility, especially considering that one of the primary reasons for its construction was to provide hands-on clinical training for medical and nursing students.
KUTRRH offers high-quality, patient-centred healthcare services, including oncology, cardiology, trauma, orthopaedics, renal care, and emergency services. Its flagship project is the oncology centre, which features advanced cancer diagnostics and treatment.
