Duale orders hospitals to submit security audit reports in 7 days
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 21, 2025Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Monday, July 21, 2025, convened an emergency meeting with chief executive officers of national referral hospitals in response to the recent killing of a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
During the meeting, Duale led a candid discussion on the state of safety and discipline within Kenya’s major hospitals, citing the KNH tragedy as a reflection of deeper systemic weaknesses.
Duale urged the leadership of referral facilities to take full responsibility for restoring public confidence in the healthcare system by addressing not only security lapses but also broader institutional failures.
“Convened a high-level meeting with CEOs of national referral hospitals to address recent security lapses at Kenyatta National Hospital and other emerging operational challenges in public health facilities. I emphasised the urgent need for reforms to restore public confidence in our healthcare system, citing systemic weaknesses that require immediate attention.” Duale said.
Reports within 7 days
All national referral hospitals, Duale directed, must carry out comprehensive security and operational audits and submit detailed reports within seven days. These reports, according to Duale, should highlight current vulnerabilities, outline corrective steps already taken, and propose immediate measures needed to safeguard patients and staff.
“All referral hospitals have been directed to submit detailed security and operational audit reports within seven days, outlining existing gaps, corrective steps taken and urgent measures required. I also called for stronger enforcement of staff discipline and improved institutional culture, noting rising public concern over patient care and conduct.” He added.
In addition to strengthening internal controls, Duale tasked facility CEOs with reinforcing staff discipline and improving the culture within their institutions. Duale acknowledged the rising concern from the public over the quality of care and conduct within hospitals as a pressing issue that requires a shift in leadership approach.
Partnership with interior ministry
To improve emergency response, Duale directed that hospitals must develop or revise their crisis communication strategies to ensure timely and transparent information flow during incidents. Duale further announced that the Ministry of Health will partner with the Ministry of Interior to boost coordination between hospital management and local security agencies.
“To strengthen security, I announced plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior to enhance coordination between hospitals and local security agencies. Leadership at the facility level must actively drive these partnerships.” He added
The meeting, chaired by Duale, was also attended by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga, and the Director General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth.
The killing
This comes days after officers from the DCI homicide unit arrested Kennedy Kalombotole following the brutal murder of Edward Maingi Ndegwa on July 17, 2025, while he was admitted to Ward 7B.
According to DCI, the detectives, upon visiting the scene of the incident, noticed bloody slipper prints from the victim’s bedside to a nearby toilet and eventually to a side room, where Kalombotole was admitted.