Despite a Sh3.6 billion investment, the East Africa Kidney Institute remains non-functional six years after its planned completion, raising concerns over wasted public funds and delayed healthcare services. The project, intended to be a major advancement in Kenya’s healthcare system, was meant to provide critical kidney care, including dialysis and transplants. However, its failure to commence operations has left thousands of patients reliant on costly private hospitals or overstretched public facilities.
A report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has exposed the government’s continued repayment of the multi-billion-shilling loan that funded the project, despite the institute remaining incomplete. This revelation has intensified scrutiny over the mismanagement of public resources, especially in the healthcare sector, where urgent medical needs are often unmet. According to the report for the 2023/2024 financial year, the government had already spent Sh2.79 billion on goods and services for the project. However, as of June 30, 2024, the facility had yet to be completed or made operational.
The delayed implementation of the institute has denied citizens access to critical kidney treatment, failing to fulfill its intended purpose. Originally planned for completion within five years from December 2014, the project was funded through a Sh3.34 billion loan, supplemented by Sh334 million in government financing, bringing the total cost to Sh3.67 billion. Despite this substantial investment, the centre remains dormant, leaving patients in need of urgent care without an affordable alternative.
Health experts have strongly criticised the government for its failure to operationalise the facility. With kidney disease on the rise in Kenya, the demand for dialysis and kidney transplants continues to grow. Public hospitals are already struggling with high patient numbers, and the absence of the East Africa Kidney Institute has further burdened the healthcare system. Experts argue that the government’s inability to complete the project reflects a broader issue of mismanagement in the health sector.
The institute was designed as a five-storey medical school featuring essential facilities, including wards, laboratories, surgical theatres, high-dependency units, consultation rooms, and parking yards. Its goal was to serve as a regional hub for comprehensive kidney care, reducing the need for Kenyans to seek treatment abroad. However, with the facility still idle, many patients are forced to seek expensive care in private hospitals, further widening the gap in healthcare accessibility between the wealthy and the less privileged.
In early January 2025, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki assured the public that the East Africa Kidney Institute would be commissioned soon at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). He described it as a crucial facility that would provide dialysis and kidney transplants, ultimately reducing the number of Kenyans forced to seek treatment overseas. “The East Africa Kidney Institute will be an international service centre, providing a one-stop shop for all renal-related services,” Kindiki stated during a press briefing at KNH. “This initiative is designed to cut down on the expenses and struggles Kenyans face when travelling abroad for kidney transplants.”
Despite these assurances, the prolonged delay has raised serious concerns about accountability and the government’s commitment to addressing urgent healthcare needs. Many stakeholders have called for urgent intervention to ensure the institute starts serving its intended purpose. With kidney disease being a significant health concern in Kenya, the timely completion and operation of the East Africa Kidney Institute could be a game-changer for the country’s healthcare system. Until then, patients will continue to bear the brunt of delayed services and high medical costs, while billions in public funds remain tied up in an incomplete project.
