Kirinyaga ACK bishop demands state clears debt owed to Mt Kenya Hospital

Kirinyaga ACK Bishop Joseph Karimi at the County Coffee Cooperative Union milling plant

KIRINYAGA ACK Bishop Joseph Karimi has urged the government to urgently clear arrears owed to Mt Kenya Hospital, warning that the church-run facility is on the brink of collapse.

The hospital, operated by the Anglican Church of Kenya, is owed more than Sh60 million by the Social Health Authority. Karimi said the financial strain has crippled operations, with only Sh2 million recently released after repeated appeals.

“But this money is barely enough to pay workers’ salaries or keep the hospital running. The facility is struggling to continue operating,” he said during the commissioning of a milling plant at the Kirinyaga County Coffee Cooperative Union on Wednesday.

The cleric cautioned that if the arrears are not settled in full, the hospital may be forced to stop treating patients covered under SHA — a move he warned would hurt poor families already grappling with the high cost of living.

“Such situations make it difficult for many Kenyans to access health care because they can’t pay for them out-of-pocket,” Karimi said, adding that government assurances of a streamlined health cover were far from the reality on the ground.

The bishop criticised the erratic release of funds, saying it had left many mission and private hospitals struggling to stay afloat. He urged SHA officials to come clean about the true situation and manage public expectations.

“We visited the facility a month ago when its debt stood at Sh60 million. Since then, it has only escalated,” Karimi said. He urged Kenyans to continue praying for leaders entrusted with decisions that impact everyday lives.

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