Nakuru County government has taken over the management of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital following the revocation of the extended lease title of the 25-hectare piece of land.
The county officers who raided and shut down the hospital accused it of forging documents in an effort to ensure its lease was extended.
Operations at the facility were disrupted by the forceful takeover. Among those who were affected were patients who were transferred to other hospitals.
Medics were also posted to nearby hospitals pending their final transfer.
“The county government of Nakuru wishes to inform the public and the country at large that it has today, October 27, 2023, taken over the management of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital beginning today,” Nakuru County Secretary Dr Samuel Mwaura stated during the takeover at the facility.
The 99-year lease, which began in 1922, lapsed in April 2021, even though the management sought an extension, which the county government alleged was forged.
"Nakuru County government wishes to convey to the public that It has taken over the custodian of the public land in Nakuru County, that piece of land known as Nakuru Municipality, following the de-gazettement of a lease title given in the name of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital,” Mwaura added.
In his speech, Dr Mwaura emphasised that the hospital management forged documents to apply for an extension after the expiry of its 99-year' lease in 2021.
On the same piece of land lies the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, Annex Hospital, and a helipad that is used by the statehouse adjacent to the said hospital.
The three facilities sit on a 25-piece of land, which is estimated to cost over Ksh1 billion.
Nakuru War Memorial Hospital, however, claimed that it had not received any notice and argued that the raid and shutdown was politically instigated.
