Kenyatta National Hospital

The Kenyatta National Hospital is the oldest hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1901 as the Native Civil Hospital and later renamed Kenyatta National Hospital in 1963. Today, it serves as a public hospital and a place where doctors and nurses learn and practice their skills through the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences.

As the largest hospital in the country and East Africa, Kenyatta National Hospital plays an important role in providing care to many people. It is also a referral hospital, meaning patients from other hospitals can be sent there when they need special care. This makes it a key part of the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

Location

The Kenyatta National Hospital is in the west part of Nairobi, Kenya's biggest city. It is about 3.5 kilometres from the city's main area and covers 45.7 acres of land.

Overview

Kenyatta National Hospital, often called KNH, was started in 1901 as the Native Civil Hospital with space for 40 patients. In 1952, it was renamed King George VI Hospital after King George VI of the United Kingdom. After Kenya gained independence, it was renamed Kenyatta National Hospital in honor of Jomo Kenyatta. Today, it is the largest hospital in the country and also serves as a teaching hospital. KNH has over 6,000 staff and 1,800 beds, but it often sees up to 3,000 patients each day because it is very busy.

Administration

The Kenyatta National Hospital is led by a board of 10 directors, with George Ooko as the chair. Dr. Richard Lesiyampe is the current chief executive officer. The board also includes the principal of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Nairobi, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health.

The hospital is also a teaching hospital for the Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi and works with many other institutions because of its advanced medical services. It is the teaching hospital for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Nairobi.

Notable staff

The Kenyatta National Hospital has had many important doctors over the years. Some well-known staff members include Shitsama Nyamweya, a neurosurgeon, and Jemimah Kariuki, a gynaecologist.