The Kisii County Government has evacuated patients from a ward at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital after the National Construction Authority (NCA) condemned the building over serious structural defects.
According to NCA Executive Director Engineer Maurice Akech, the authority is monitoring concerns about the structural integrity of the Nyangito Wing of the hospital.
The NCA, a State corporation established under the National Construction Authority Act No. 41 of 2011, is mandated to oversee and regulate the construction industry.
The affected wing — completed eight years ago — has recently shown worrying signs of structural distress, prompting urgent technical intervention.
A multidisciplinary team from the NCA, the National Building Inspectorate and the Kisii County Government conducted a preliminary audit and identified major structural issues, including column compression failure in three critical basement columns, excessive beam deflection and poor concrete quality in beams and columns.
The team also noted slab and wall deterioration caused by extensive leakages, as well as diagonal cracks around window edges on the ground floor.
“In view of these findings, the technical team has recommended the immediate evacuation of all patients and other persons from every floor of the building,” said Mr Akech.
He added that comprehensive structural tests must now be carried out to determine the full extent of the damage and guide the safest course of action.
The engineer urged members of the public, hospital staff and stakeholders to remain calm as investigations proceed saying that the safety and well-being of facility users remains the top priority.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati described the NCA’s revelations as shocking and called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate those involved.
“We have written to EACC and other State agencies to investigate,” he said, noting that the block had been hosting nearly 500 patients.
Mr Arati said all those involved in the substandard construction — including engineers and contractors — would be held responsible.
“When county engineers raised concerns, I did not believe them. I asked NCA to verify. The beams were built using poor sand — almost soil — and the metal reinforcements are in bad condition,” he said, adding that the evacuation was necessary to prevent possible loss of life.
“We must know who slept on the job. We must be accountable. I will not preside over a county where things are not done right,” he said, warning that millions of shillings in public funds will be lost if the building is eventually demolished.
The Nyangito Wing is one of the most popular units at the facility, known for its name and the thousands of patients it has served over the years.
It was named after former Permanent Secretary Dr Hezron Nyangito, who is credited with helping mobilise funds for its construction.
