The governor’s admission comes in the wake of recent public demonstrations outside the hospital, where angry residents took to the streets to protest poor healthcare services, shortages of medicine and delayed treatment.
Speaking on the crisis, Kihika said the county government has been struggling to keep the hospital operational due to delayed reimbursements from SHA, which has left the facility unable to restock essential drugs and medical supplies on time.
According to the governor, the unpaid funds have created a huge financial strain, affecting day to day operations and making it difficult for the hospital to meet the growing healthcare demands of residents in Naivasha and surrounding areas.
Naivasha Level 4 Hospital is one of the key referral facilities in the region, serving thousands of patients every month.
However, in recent weeks, patients have complained of long queues, lack of medicine, understaffing and what they described as inhumane conditions.
Also Read
The protests escalated after several patients and families claimed they were being turned away or forced to buy medicine from private pharmacies due to shortages within the hospital.
Kihika defended her administration, saying the county has done its part in supporting health facilities, but national government institutions must also play their role by releasing funds in time.
She urged SHA to urgently settle the pending Sh102 million debt to allow the hospital to resume normal operations and improve service delivery.
“We understand the pain residents are going through, and we are doing everything possible to address the situation. But delayed disbursements are making it hard for hospitals to function effectively,” Kihika said.
The revelation has sparked fresh debate over the efficiency of the new health financing system, with critics questioning whether SHA is prepared to handle timely reimbursements to public hospitals across the country.
Health stakeholders have warned that if the debt is not cleared soon, the crisis could worsen, putting more lives at risk and increasing pressure on already strained healthcare facilities in Nakuru County.
Residents are now demanding immediate intervention from both county and national governments to restore services and ensure patients receive the care they deserve.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on SHA and the Ministry of Health to respond to the growing public anger and provide a lasting solution to the Naivasha hospital crisis.
