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Nairobi Hospital Chairman Dr. Barcley Onyambu Defends AI Scanner Procurement Amid Sh2.2 Billion Loss
Gerald Kombo
March 19, 2026
The Nairobi Hospital | Board of Management | Dr. Barcley Onyambu, Board Chairman
The Governance Storm
Dr. Barcley Onyambu has acknowledged that certain doctors sitting on the board hold deep conflicts of interest, describing some as squarely competing with the very institution they are meant to oversee. He has called for mandatory collaboration between the Board of Management and the Medical Advisory Committee, a directive framed as government backed, signalling the need to restore full clinical oversight within the institution's governance structure.
"Some of those doctors we know are deeply conflicted and rapidly competing with the business."
The Nairobi Hospital has faced sustained disruption, with two consecutive Annual General Meetings halted by court actions and officials challenged through ongoing litigation. Senator Omtatah petitioned the High Court alleging Sh9.1 billion in unexplained financial discrepancies, while President William Ruto pledged to restore stability, affirming that no individual or group would be allowed to hold one of East Africa's most critical healthcare institutions hostage.
Board "Fully Committed" but the Numbers Tell a Different Story
Dr. Onyambu has been unequivocal on where the institution stands.
"The Nairobi Hospital is operational and is fully committed to quality patient healthcare. The Board of Management and the Board of Trustees are fully committed to supporting management."
The financial backdrop demands scrutiny. The hospital recorded a Sh2.21 billion loss in FY2024, a dramatic reversal from a Sh190 million surplus the previous year, with significant sums written off on abandoned projects, dispute settlements from halted initiatives, and mounting legal costs. The numbers make the governance question not academic but urgent.
The AI Question: Scanner Procurement Under Scrutiny
The 254 Report put a direct question to Dr. Onyambu: was the procurement of the 256 slice AI powered CT scanner, launched in June 2025 with Health CS Aden Duale in attendance, independently audited given the hospital's Sh2.21 billion loss?
His response was the most detailed of the engagement. He outlined a multi stage procurement chain: the request originates from the Radiology Department, escalates to the CEO, passes through the Medical Advisory Committee for clinical evaluation, receives Board approval, before management runs the competitive tendering and vendor selection process.
"It's a long process. It took, I think, probably one whole year for us to go through that process. That was budgeted. It was budgeted at the beginning of the year, and then when that expenditure was done, it was done following a budget that was made on the request of the user department."
The scanner, a Siemens SOMATOM Drive, the first of its kind in East Africa, features dual source and AI assisted imaging technology capable of ultra fast, high resolution scans with reduced radiation exposure. Delivered in partnership with ElsMed Healthcare Solutions, it covers pediatric, cardiac, oncological, trauma, and neurological imaging.
Forward Looking: More AI, More ISO, More Questions
Dr. Onyambu has signalled a clear technology investment direction, describing the hospital's AI capability as stronger than anticipated.
"We are supposed to continue to invest in state of the art technology. The AI is stronger than we thought."
Alongside AI, The Nairobi Hospital is actively pursuing ISO QMS (Quality Management Systems), Environmental Management Systems, and Occupational Safety and Health certifications, with Dr. Onyambu noting the institution is "piloting in a rigorous process" with "good progress in that direction." A collaboration framework with SHA further enables covered patients to access advanced diagnostics, fully subsidized oncology care, and post transplant renal services.
The Bigger Picture
Dr. Barcley Onyambu, a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist with over 20 years of experience, was appointed Board Chairman in March 2025 to lead a "fresh chapter focused on strengthening governance and ethical standards." He has described the role as "among the most demanding things I've ever done."
Through sustained disruption, halted AGMs, and court challenges, The Nairobi Hospital under his stewardship continues to invest in state of the art technology, pursue international quality certifications, and advance its commitment to every patient who walks through its doors.
The message from the Board of Management and the Board of Trustees is clear: the institution is bigger than its disputes, and quality patient healthcare remains non negotiable.
Reported by The 254 Report.
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