Dr. Job Obwaka, Veteran Gynaecologist and Nairobi Hospital Director, Dies After Arrest

A veteran obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Job Obwaka passed away while serving as director at Nairobi Hospital and as a board member of the Kenya Hospital Association.
The 83-year-old doctor died on Friday, shortly after his controversial arrest.
His death has reignited discussions about leadership conflicts at the leading private healthcare facility.
Dr. Obwaka was recently apprehended along with other high-ranking hospital officials in relation to an ongoing governance dispute affecting the renowned institution.
Among those held at Muthaiga Police Station, authorities were investigating allegations tied to contentious boardroom conflicts concerning leadership, financial management, and the validity of member registrations.
The detention provoked strong reactions from medical professionals and legal entities, with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) considering strike action over what they called “unexplained arrests” of prominent hospital administrators.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) also requested explanations, characterizing the experienced physician as a highly respected medical practitioner and guide.
According to KMA President Simon Kigundu, Dr. Obwaka was “an eminent clinician, educator, and advisor” who contributed to Kenya’s healthcare sector for many years.
Throughout his extensive medical career, Dr. Obwaka developed a strong reputation as one of Kenya’s foremost obstetricians and gynecologists.
In addition to his clinical work, he functioned as an admitting consultant at Nairobi Hospital and significantly contributed to healthcare leadership via the Kenya Hospital Association.
His demise now introduces a somber element to the intensifying Nairobi Hospital crisis, where competing board groups have been struggling for authority of one of East Africa’s most eminent medical centers.
Court proceedings, postponed gatherings, and claims involving billions of shillings in unaccounted finances have progressively worsened the deadlock.