Kenyatta National Hospital

The Kenyatta National Hospital is the oldest hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. It was opened in 1901 and renamed Kenyatta National Hospital in 1963. Today, it is a public hospital and a place where doctors and nurses learn and practice through the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences.

As the largest hospital in the country and East Africa, Kenyatta National Hospital helps many people. It is a referral hospital, so patients from other hospitals can come here for special care. This makes it very important for the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

Location

The Kenyatta National Hospital is in the west part of Nairobi, Kenya's largest 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 many patients each day because it is very busy.

Administration

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

The hospital is a teaching hospital for the Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi. It works with many institutions because of its advanced medical services. It is also 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. Well-known staff include Shitsama Nyamweya, a brain surgeon, and Jemimah Kariuki, a women's health doctor.