KSh 453M Oxygen Plant Lies Idle at KNH: Who Is Accountable?

[Omu]

A shocking revelation has emerged at Kenyatta National Hospital — a KSh 453 million oxygen plant meant to supply lifesaving oxygen to patients is reportedly non-functional.

Despite the massive investment, the plant has never been fully operational. This means KNH continues to rely on private suppliers and external sources for oxygen — a critical medical resource used daily by hundreds of patients.

MPs who visited the facility have raised concerns about:

• Possible procurement irregularities
• Equipment that allegedly does not match original specifications
• Weak supervision and oversight
• Accountability gaps within management

This situation raises serious questions:

1. How does such a high-value project fail at Kenya’s largest referral hospital?
2. Who should be held responsible for the stalled oxygen plant?
3. Are procurement systems in public hospitals broken?
4. What does this mean for patient safety and public trust?

Oxygen is not a luxury; it is a lifesaving necessity. If KNH cannot operationalize a fully funded oxygen plant, what does that say about project management in other public institutions?

Source: The Standard