Why Over 3000 Hospitals Might Close in December
The majority of patients across the country may also be forced to pay for healthcare services out of pocket...
✨ Key Highlights
Over 3,000 private and faith-based hospitals in Kenya are at risk of closing by December due to the government's failure to settle a Ksh76 billion debt in the healthcare sector, according to the Rural and Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA).
- The government owes Ksh33 billion under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and an additional Ksh43 billion under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
- RUPHA chair Brian Lishenga warned that hospitals might revert to cash payments, potentially compromising the effectiveness of SHA.
- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that Ksh5.3 billion of the NHIF pending bills, owed to hospitals between Ksh1 million and Ksh10 million, will be cleared in the next two months.
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Hospitals Face Closure Over Ksh76B Debt; Court Issues Orders to Mbagathi Hospital - September 2025
Over 3,000 private and faith-based hospitals are at risk of closing by December due to the government's failure to settle a Ksh76 billion debt, according to the Rural and Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA). In a separate matter, the High Court ordered Mbagathi Hospital to resume treating inmates referred by the Kenya Prisons Service (KFS), despite an ongoing dispute over Ksh12 million in unpaid medical bills. The ruling by Justice Bahati Mwamuye emphasized the constitutional right to health for all persons. Meanwhile, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has mandated that all ambulance services and emergency care providers must register with the council by September 15, 2025. This measure is intended to standardize emergency healthcare in Kenya.
