For the people of Nyandiwa in Homa Bay County, the hospital scandal is not just a question of financial mismanagement—it is about life and death.
More than ten years since construction began, Nyandiwa Hospital still stands unfinished and non-operational. Yet, official records from the Social Health Authority (SHA) continue to list the facility as one of those receiving government funds. For locals, this contradiction is a bitter reminder of betrayal and neglect in Kenya’s healthcare system.
Residents Cry Out: “We’ve Waited for a Decade”
Residents have expressed deep frustration after photos and videos circulating online confirmed that Nyandiwa Hospital remains a mere shell, not a functioning medical center.
One resident voiced his anger:
“That is a surprise and breaking news to me. It is very concerning that the hospital is receiving funds, yet we have never seen the hospital working. This is a waste project.”
Another added:
“What I can tell the government is, open the hospital so that it can now start operating so that we can also start working here. It can be very beneficial to us who live near it.”
Such testimonies raise critical questions about corruption, mismanagement, and possible diversion of funds under the cover of Nyandiwa Hospital’s name.
SHA Denies Wrongdoing
In response to growing public anger, the Social Health Authority released a strongly worded statement denying that money was being misdirected to a “ghost hospital.”
SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi insisted that disbursements are handled with strict scrutiny and labeled media reports as “false and misleading.”
But her denial did little to calm the storm—especially after the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale contradicted her remarks.
Duale Admits Possible “Clerical Error”
Health CS Aden Duale shocked the public when he admitted that Nyandiwa Hospital’s inclusion in the August funding list could have been a clerical error.
This directly conflicted with SHA’s earlier position and fueled speculation of possible cover-ups within the Ministry of Health. The inconsistencies have only deepened public mistrust and raised suspicions of systemic corruption.
Watchdogs Demand Accountability
The scandal has now become a rallying point for civil society, opposition leaders, and healthcare watchdogs.
The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association, which has long accused the SHA of mismanagement, has cited Nyandiwa Hospital as a glaring example of government inefficiency.
Civil society groups are calling for:
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A forensic audit of SHA’s disbursements.
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Investigations into potential fraud linked to Nyandiwa Hospital.
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Full public disclosure of all government-funded hospital projects.
Symbol of Ghost Projects in Kenya
The Nyandiwa Hospital scandal has come to symbolize Kenya’s notorious “ghost projects”—initiatives that consume millions in taxpayer money but remain incomplete or non-existent.
For residents of Homa Bay, the betrayal is particularly painful. Despite government claims of progress, they still lack access to basic healthcare, often forced to travel long distances for treatment.
The Human Cost
At the heart of the scandal is not just money lost, but lives put at risk. Expectant mothers, children, and the elderly remain without essential medical care.
As one local elder lamented:
“They show Nyandiwa Hospital on paper, but in reality, it is just an empty building. People are dying because of corruption.”
What Next?
Unless decisive action is taken, Nyandiwa risks becoming yet another case where millions are looted with impunity, while ordinary Kenyans suffer.
For the residents, the demand is simple: a real hospital, not a ghost project.
Until those responsible are held accountable, Nyandiwa Hospital will remain a tragic example of how corruption kills—not just dreams, but people.