Nakuru Court Grants Temporary Reprieve to War Memorial Hospital in Ownership Dispute

A Nakuru County court has granted a temporary reprieve to Nakuru War Memorial Hospital amid its prolonged ownership and management standoff with the County Government of Nakuru. The hospital, which stood closed and locked out of service since its takeover in January 2024, will be allowed to reopen under a joint-management arrangement while the underlying land dispute continues to play out in court.
The background of the conflict stretches back to a 25-acre parcel of land in Milimani Estate on which the hospital sits. The county government claimed the current lease had expired in 2021 and moved to take over the facility, citing alleged irregularities in the lease renewal. The hospital’s private management challenged the takeover, securing several court orders barring the county from interfering with its operations. In March 2025, the Court of Appeal struck out the county’s appeal and upheld the hospital management’s ownership rights, paving the way for the facility’s reinstatement.
Reactions among stakeholders have been intense. Civic groups and health advocates welcomed the court’s decision as a win for service continuity and patient rights, noting that the hospital’s closure had put thin pressure on other facilities in the region. Meanwhile, the county government expressed concern over the financial and operational implications of the judgment, and local analysts questioned whether both parties have the capacity to sustain operations under a joint arrangement. Delays in access and management since 2024 have already drawn criticism from the Law Society of Kenya for the perceived disregard of court orders.
Looking ahead, the key test lies in whether the management duo can agree on a shared governance model and resume full patient services without further legal or administrative disruptions. The parties have been ordered to engage in active talks to implement the court-approved framework, and local health watchdogs will be monitoring service delivery closely. If the hospital reopens successfully and sustains operations, it could restore a critical health resource for Nakuru and serve as a model for resolving land-related hospital management disputes in Kenya.