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A board resolution lawfully removed Dr Barcley Onyambu as chairman, a faction of The Nairobi Hospital board of management, led by Prof Herman Manyora, has said. 

In a statement on Friday, the Manyora-led group said it now holds the legitimate leadership of the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA).

The faction stated that the board convened a special meeting at 9:30am on June 30, during which a unanimous resolution was passed to replace Onyambu.

“Dr Barcley Onyambu was lawfully removed from the position of chairman and Prof Herman Manyora was duly elected in his place,” the statement read.

“Prof Manyora is now fully vested with the mandate, authority and responsibilities of the office of chairperson of the board and is legally entitled to discharge all functions attendant to the role.”

The meeting and resulting decisions were fully in accordance with the Articles of Association governing the hospital and all procedural requirements – including quorum and voting thresholds – were met, they said.

According to the Manyora-led faction, Onyambu declined to relinquish his position, prompting the matter to be taken to the High Court.

On July 3, the court issued interim conservatory orders affirming the resolutions of the meeting and restraining Onyambu, the Chief Executive Officer and the Company Secretary from taking any actions that interfere with the new leadership’s mandate.

The court barred them from convening or presiding over any board meetings, retreats, or similar governance activities pending further directions, emphasising that any contravention of the orders would constitute contempt of court.

“This hospital is bleeding, and leadership is where it begins,” said one board member aligned with the Manyora faction.

“We are facing resistance from a group that feels entitled, but we are here legally. The meeting had a quorum. The court has upheld it. We are asking stakeholders to support this change for the hospital’s future.”

They raised alarm over what they termed a worsening financial and governance crisis, citing last year’s deficit of over Sh1.2 billion.

“This is not just a power struggle. The hospital is in danger. If the bleeding is not stopped, we will be looking at collapse,” another member added.

They also addressed criticisms questioning the legitimacy of the meeting, noting that the Companies Act and the hospital’s governing documents allow any board member to call for a meeting if a quorum is met.

“The Company Secretary has no power to approve or postpone board meetings. That power lies with the board,” a member emphasised.

Despite the confidence expressed by the Manyora camp, the opposing faction led by Onyambu issued a firm rebuttal the same day.

In a cautionary statement dated July 3, Onyambu dismissed the claims of his removal and the subsequent election of Manyora, calling them false and misleading. 

“We wish to categorically state that no board meeting took place on the date alleged in the letter and therefore no changes to the board leadership occurred as claimed,” Onyambu said.

He criticised the use of a letterhead titled ‘The Nairobi Hospital Convention Center,’ saying it was a fraudulent attempt to mislead stakeholders. 

“The Kenya Hospital Association trades as ‘The Nairobi Hospital’ and not under any other name. Any communication using a different identity is a fabrication,” he said.

Onyambu clarified that all official communication concerning board matters must come from the office of the Company Secretary and urged stakeholders and the public to disregard any unofficial messages.

As the two camps maintain parallel narratives, the dispute now lies squarely in the hands of the courts, which are expected to provide a final interpretation of the legality of the meeting and the board resolutions.

In the meantime, both sides appeal for calm among hospital staff, patients and stakeholders, even as concern grows over the potential impact of the governance conflict on operations and service delivery at one of Kenya’s most prestigious healthcare institutions.