The Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer Gordon Odundo has been sent home to pave way for investigations into multi-million tender scandals that are the centre of the current impasse.
The hospital’s board of management confirmed that Odundo would be on three months of compulsory leave that took effect on Friday to “allow the completion of the ongoing forensic audit".
Drama unfolded at the facility on Friday after Odundo locked himself in his office for long hours to avoid being served with the notice requiring him to leave office.
At the center of the standoff are multi-million insurance and construction tenders which placed Odundo in the thick of things.
He is suspected to have breached several guidelines in the awarding of tenders which may have seen the facility lose millions.
A lawyer who arrived bearing the notice at around midday had to wait for long hours, long into the night.
Reports indicate that the board’s decision has created divisions at the hospital with a section of doctors strongly opposed to the decision.
The board however assured the public that services at the facility will not be interrupted as they attempt to sort out the situation.
"We wish our patients, clients, consultants and other stake holders that our management and staff are ensuring that our operations of the hospital are continuing in the usual expected standards,"
"The board has taken the necessary measures to ensure that the functions of the hospital continue uninterrupted," the board said.
Controversial appointments and deteriorating standards
The CEO is also on the spot for making controversial appointments at the facility.
It is alleged that the hospital’s ICT Director Timoth Otieno Odundo is his nephew while the Finance Director Anthony Mburu is his brother in law.
Odundo who took over from former health CS Cleopa Mailu has been accused of presiding over a reign of decline in standards at the hospital.
Among the reasons given is that he scraped off overtime for nurses, a move which greatly demoralized staff.