President William Ruto has called for members of the public to be included in hospital management boards to help monitor how health facilities spend money received from the government.
Speaking during a church service at ACK Kapsabet Church on Sunday, October 18, the President said involving members of the public would strengthen accountability and help prevent the misuse of funds meant for healthcare.
Ruto said hospital boards should include doctors, government officers, county officials and members of the public, similar to the management structure used in public schools.
“Health centres must be supervised by doctors and members of the public, just as we supervise schools. Doctors, government officers, and county officers must also be presented,” he said.
The President’s remarks come as the government sends funds directly to individual health facilities through the Social Health Authority (SHA), placing greater responsibility on hospital management to ensure the money is used for essential services.
Ruto raises concern over hospital spending
Ruto criticised some health facilities for spending money on infrastructure projects instead of prioritising medicines and other essential medical supplies.
He cited cases where facilities allegedly used SHA funds to install gates or lay cabro paving rather than buy medicines needed by patients.
“When money is sent to a dispensary, the first responsibility is to buy medicines. Some people, when we send SHA money, buy gates or install cabro,” he said.
The President urged hospital boards to ensure that funds received by facilities are first directed towards medicines and other health commodities before money is spent on infrastructure development.
“Because we are now sending money directly to every hospital, the Boards of Management in every hospital must prioritise purchase of medicines and health commodities over infrastructural developments,” Ruto stated.
His proposal is aimed at strengthening public oversight of hospital spending and ensuring that funds reach the services patients need.
Hospital boards could follow school model
Ruto pointed to the management of public schools as an example of how members of the public could be involved in overseeing health facilities.
Under the Basic Education Act, public schools have Boards of Management that include community representatives, parents and local leaders alongside education officials.
The President wants a similar approach adopted in public hospitals, with members of the public working alongside medical professionals and government representatives to oversee operations and spending.
The proposal would give communities a role in monitoring how public health funds are used, particularly when facilities receive money intended to improve access to treatment and medical supplies.
Nairobi hospitals undergo management changes
Ruto’s pronouncement is made against the backdrop of changes in the governance of public health facilities including the reforms introduced in Nairobi County.
The Nairobi County Health Services and Management Act, 2026 provided greater freedom to Level Five hospitals in terms of finance and management but with certain conditions and creation of hospital management boards.
The pronouncement by the President brings into light the role played by hospital management boards in ensuring that public money is spent wisely and facilities look after the needs of the patients.
Nevertheless, Ruto’s pronouncements talked about the need to involve the public in the hospital management but not about any specific policy or implementation process.
