Dr. Job Obwaka, the chair of the board at The Nairobi Hospital, arrived at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on Monday, March 16, ahead of his arraignment following his arrest over allegations of falsifying the institution’s members’ register.
The veteran obstetrician and gynaecologist was taken into custody on Friday, March 13, with investigators accusing him of being involved in irregular alterations to the hospital’s membership records.
His arrest has triggered strong reactions within the medical community, with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) condemning the move and calling for due process to be followed.
Union officials said the circumstances surrounding the arrest were unclear and raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the investigation.
Medical lobby groups also argued that maintaining the register of members is typically the responsibility of a company secretary rather than individual board members, questioning the basis of the allegations against Obwaka.
The case comes amid ongoing governance disputes and leadership wrangles that have rocked the management of the hospital in recent years, with factions within the institution previously battling in court over board leadership and decision-making authority.
Doctors’ organisations have warned that the arrest of a senior practitioner of Obwaka’s stature has caused anxiety within the healthcare fraternity, with some groups demanding transparency and adherence to constitutional safeguards, including the right to bail.
The court proceedings at Milimani are expected to determine whether prosecutors will formally charge the hospital board chair as investigations into the alleged falsification of records continue.