Kenya's Nakuru Governor Susan Kihiga Says Sleeping Relatives Outside Hospital Are Not Patients

Governor Susan Kihiga of Nakuru County responded to viral images that showed people sleeping on benches outside the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital. She clarified that those in the photos were relatives who had accompanied patients admitted late at night and remained at the facility until they could travel home in the morning, not patients awaiting beds.

Kihiga recalled a similar incident last year when a video of security personnel trying to remove relatives sparked public outrage, leading the county to allow them to stay. The governor’s remarks came amid online speculation about overcrowding and inadequate bed capacity at the referral hospital, a concern previously raised after reports of doctor shortages and the closure of the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital.

The statements aim to address misconceptions about the hospital’s conditions and reassure the public that the individuals sleeping outside are family members supporting admitted patients.