A senior official from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has been charged in court with stealing 56 Lenovo M10 tablets valued at KSh3,655,680, property belonging to the hospital. The alleged theft deals a blow to the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to digitize healthcare systems in Kenya.
The accused, Dennis Otieno, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at the Milimani Law Courts, where he faced charges of stealing by servant contrary to Section 281 of the Penal Code.
According to the prosecution, Otieno — who has served at KNH for over 22 years and currently holds the position of Vice Chair in the hospital’s Staff Organization Department — is accused of stealing the tablets between October 18, 2023, and February 27, 2025, at the hospital’s Nairobi facility.
Ministry’s Digital Health Initiative Undermined
The stolen Lenovo tablets were reportedly procured under the Ministry of Health’s digital transformation program, spearheaded by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, aimed at integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into public hospitals.
The program seeks to streamline patient data management, enhance diagnostics, and improve overall healthcare delivery across Kenya’s public health institutions.
However, the alleged theft has cast a shadow over the initiative, raising questions about internal accountability and the protection of public assets in major health institutions.
Court Proceedings
During the arraignment, the prosecution outlined that the tablets were issued to various departments within KNH to facilitate patient record management and remote health reporting. The devices reportedly disappeared over several months, prompting an internal audit and subsequent investigations that traced the missing items to Otieno’s department.
Otieno denied the charges, maintaining his innocence and claiming that the allegations were part of a “malicious internal witch-hunt” aimed at tarnishing his name. His defence counsel requested lenient bail terms, noting that the accused has been a long-serving employee with no prior disciplinary record.
Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina released Otieno on a cash bail of KSh300,000 and ordered him to appear for the mention of his case on November 12, 2025.
Broader Implications for Public Accountability
The case has drawn public attention to the broader issue of corruption and mismanagement in Kenya’s public healthcare sector, especially amid efforts by the government to modernize systems and digitize patient services.
Observers say such incidents undermine public confidence and waste taxpayer resources meant to improve health service delivery.
The Ministry of Health has yet to issue an official statement on the case, though sources within the ministry indicate that a broader internal audit has been launched across several hospitals to ensure that all ICT equipment is properly accounted for