Audit queries Nakuru county's capability to safeguard public assets

The Auditor General has questioned the Nakuru county government’s capability to safeguard public assets, following the closure of War Memorial Hospital on January 23, 2024.

The county shut down the hospital, over ownership dispute of the 25-acre land in Milimani Estate, where the hospital stands.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in her audit of the hospital, said there was no effective mechanism in the county government to protect assets.

Gathungu observed that the closure of the hospital followed escalated wrangles between the county and private management on who owns the land which also hosts a public hospital and a helipad.

“The hospital has various installations, equipment, buildings, and other assets which are worth millions of shillings. The assets risk becoming obsolete or unserviceable,” she noted.

Further, the Auditor General noted that the assets may be lost or misused due to the many years of being idle, insisting that they could not confirm the safety of the assets.

The audit comes as the reopening of the hospital was delayed further, following a disagreement between the county government and the private management.

The Court of Appeal had on October 1, 2024, ordered the reopening of the hospital under joint management of the private management, county government, and the national government.

However, on February 10, 2025, Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal Lina Akoth, was made aware that they could not agree on the security personnel supposed to be stationed at the hospital.

The board chair Roger Joslyn said the private management should be allowed to be in charge of security and hire private personnel to assist on the same.

However, the county government through the County Secretary Samuel Mwaura said they want joint security personnel to man the hospital.

Joslyn said that some staff had been denied access to some of the rooms manned by the county enforcement team.

“Cleaning operations have been going on well since the reopening of the hospital was ordered but we cannot access some parts of the hospital,” said Joslyn.

He said the fact that they cannot fully access the hospital has made it difficult to reopen it to the public for services.

“They have no reason to have their guards at the hospital. Until they are removed, I cannot see any way forward. No equipment at the hospital belongs to the county government,” he said.

Dr Simon Mwangi accused the county government of delaying the reopening process that was at an advanced stage.

Mwangi said the county officials have failed to attend two meetings previously planned in January 2025, to deliberate on the way forward.

In response, Mwaura said the court of appeal ordered that the hospital be opened under a joint management.

“We need to have a formal agreement which should be in minutes to move forward,” said Mwaura.

Akoth expressed frustrations and directed the board members to hold meetings and to update the court on March 13, 2025.

“Are we going back or moving forward with the reopening? Can the board members sit down and agree on the way forward,” she directed.

At the same time a criminal case is proceeding against the private directors of the hospital, land officials among others, with 40 witnesses lined up to testify.
Kihagi will continue with his testimony on March 19.

Meanwhile, Justice Joseph Mugo has taken over the hospital’s land case from Judge Yuvinalis Angima.

Angima had in July 2024, quashed the decision that suspended the renewed lease, pending the hearing of the land dispute.

Mugo set hearing of the land dispute on March 26 and 27, 2025.