'Let your PhD reflect in your utterances,' Karua blasts Ruto over Nairobi Hospital drama

People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has criticised President William Ruto's stance regarding the controversy surrounding The Nairobi Hospital, questioning why a leader of his stature has resorted to hurling insults instead of being the voice of reason.

While addressing Mt. Elgon residents in Bungoma County on Tuesday, President Ruto vowed to protect the Nairobi Hospital from 'conmen' allegedly involved in corruption. Since 2023, President Ruto has served as the patron of the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA), the body that runs The Nairobi Hospital.

In a rebuttal, Karua noted that the Head of State should prioritise addressing governance challenges in his administration. 

"Pray which of our laws gives you power to interfere with the running of a private institution? Why don’t you first address the serious governance challenges in your government, namely, corruption, theft of public funds such as the withdrawal of Ksh.1.3 trillion from eCitizen, land grabbing, to name but a few?" Karua posed in a post on X. 

"A leader who results to insults instead of reasoning demeans the office they hold. Do let your PhD reflect in your actions and utterances." 

Her remarks followed a public debate that arose following President Ruto's vehement remarks regarding the melee surrounding the Nairobi Hospital. 

"Senior doctors, senior professionals from Nairobi Hospitals approached me to save Nairobi Hospital from conmen, fraudsters and charlatans who wanted to expropriate it. Nairobi Hospital is a premier medical institution that serves the region. There is no way I am going to allow Nairobi Hospital to be taken hostage by fraudsters," Ruto stated.

"I have instructed with clarity that all those who are involved in fraudulent activities in Nairobi Hospital will be removed, taken to court, charged and Nairobi Hospital is going to serve the people of Kenya." 

The development comes after doctors linked to the management of Kenya Hospital Association Limited were arrested and later presented in court to face criminal charges.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the doctors were charged with an alleged conflict of interest, unlawful receipt of benefits and failure to comply with financial reporting requirements.

The arrest prompted Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to explain that the hospital is registered as a company limited by guarantee, meaning it is member-owned and has no shareholders.