Nairobi Hospital's newly elected interim chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Agnes Gachoki, says she was assaulted as she sought to attend a board meeting.
A leadership fight at The Nairobi Hospital has taken a new twist after the newly elected interim chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) Agnes Gachoki was allegedly assaulted as she sought to attend a board meeting.
Dr Gachoki reported the assault at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Kilimani on Wednesday morning, a day after she was allegedly blocked from accessing the board meeting.
Meanwhile, another group wants members who held a meeting on March 13 and elected the interim officials held in contempt of court, for proceeding with the Special General Meeting (SGM) despite a court order.
Company Secretary Gilbert Nyamweya in court filings says an interim injunction was issued last December, stopping members of the MAC from taking over office, pending the determination of the case.
“It is clear that the actions by the contemnors are intended to undermine the authority of this honourable court by bringing it into disrepute,” Mr Nyamweya said.
But in opposing the contempt of court application, Dr Timonthy Byakika, the MAC vice-chairperson, said the members did not disobey any court order in holding the SGM as it was convened by Naiorbi Hospital’s Admitting Staff Association as per their constitutional rights.
“The resolutions passed at the meeting were a democratic expression of the will of the members of the Nairobi Hospital Admitting Staff Association and were necessary for the governance and operation of the Kenya Hospital Association trading as the Nairobi Hospital,” Dr Byakika said.
Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) Members Dr. Agnes Gachoki (right) and Dr. Job Obwaka both pictured outside the Kilimani Police Station on March 19, 2025 when they had gone to report an assault case against Dr. Agnes after she was denied access to a board meeting at the Nairobi Hospital.
He said the members present appointed Dr Gachoki and himself as the chairperson and vice chairperson of the interim MAC for a term of 60 days. Dr Gachoki replaced Dr Fred Kambuni as the chairperson.
“It is incorrect and dishonest as claimed by Gilbert Nyamweya that there has been a disobedience and disregard of a court order yet there is no express directive suspending the Articles of Association of the Kenya Hospital Association and the Regulations governing the Nairobi Hospital Admitting Staff Association or restraining the membership from validly calling for and convening meetings,” he said.
In a further affidavit, Dr Byakika said there was no court order stopping the SGM or specifically stopping the meeting validly called and convened on March 13, 2025, by members of the Nairobi Hospital Admitting Staff Association.
Dr Gachoki told the police that she and other members arrived at the hospital for the board meeting as mandated representative,s only to be assaulted.
“We were informed there was a board meeting, a hospital board meeting, and my members, who were representatives of the Admitting Staff Association, asked me to attend the meeting. And they escorted me to the meeting to witness the handing over from the former chairperson to myself,” Dr Gachoki explained.
Upon arrival, however, the delegation found the entrance blocked by security personnel who refused to let them in.
“We tried to diplomatically discuss and negotiate with the people who were in the meeting, but they completely denied us access. And that's when a scuffle ensued,” Dr Gachoki recounted.
Physical attack
She said the security officers physically attacked her as she attempted to gain access to the venue.
The latest incident comes a few days after Dr Chris Bichage was removed as the chairperson of the premier hospital and has since been replaced by Dr Barcley Onyambu. Dr Bichage has challenged his removal in a case to be heard on April 8.
And in response to the alleged attack, Dr Onyambu, in an internal memo, dismissed Dr Gachoki’s claims of rightful leadership, insisting that her election was conducted in violation of a court order.
“Dr Gachoki is not the duly elected MAC Chairperson. The elections in question were conducted in violation of a court order. Recognising these elections would place the hospital’s board in direct contravention of the court’s directive. Consequently, the board cannot lawfully expand the plenary to include members elected outside of the court’s guidance,” said the board chairman.
The hospital also defended the actions of its security team, stating that access control measures were implemented to maintain order and prevent disruptions.
“Hospital security operates under standard protocols to ensure the safety and order of the premises at all times. Access control measures are implemented as necessary to prevent disruptions and uphold institutional policies.”
Regarding the allegations of physical assault, the hospital claims that security officers were also subjected to aggression.
“The hospital is aware of an incident involving an altercation between security personnel and Dr Gachoki. A formal report has been filed by the hospital’s chief security officer regarding an alleged assault on the security personnel [OB entry 53 on 18.03.25 at Kilimani Police Station]. The matter is under review, and appropriate steps will be taken based on the findings.”
The chairman emphasized that only a legally sanctioned process could determine the rightful MAC leadership, and any attempt to impose leadership outside these guidelines would not be entertained.
“As such, the leadership of ASA/MAC will remain as it was before the meeting. Also, the governance framework does not provide for a parallel or interim MAC,” said the Board Chairman’s statement.
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