The Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, led by Vice Chairman Hon.
Major (Rtd) Bashir Abdullah, on Wednesday conducted an oversight visit to the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH) in Nairobi.
The team was received by the facility’s Commandant, Brigadier John Wekesa Khaoya, who briefed the lawmakers on the hospital’s mandate, achievements, ongoing reforms, and challenges affecting daily operations.
The visit aimed to assess the hospital’s service delivery, infrastructure, and development plans. Brig.
Khaoya underscored the hospital’s crucial role in safeguarding the health of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel and their families, including those deployed in operations such as in Somalia.
“Men and women in uniform also need to be protected health-wise,” he stated.
The committee was taken through the hospital’s history and current capabilities before embarking on a guided tour of key departments, including the radiology wing, theatre, paediatric and renal wards.
Among the issues discussed was the proposed upgrade of DFMH to a Level 5 facility, a move that would require significant investment in infrastructure and equipment.
Despite facing various operational challenges, the hospital has remained committed to providing quality healthcare to KDF personnel and their families, the committee noted.
Commending the hospital’s staff for their dedication, Hon. Abdullah assured the management that the committee would escalate the highlighted challenges and recommendations to appropriate levels to support the institution’s development agenda.
