Millions of shillings in public property vanish inside one of Kenya’s biggest referral hospitals. Patients lose valuables. Critical cancer equipment disappears. Guards look away. Managers deflect blame.
Evidence now points to deliberate security gaps and questionable procurement deals that benefit a few while endangering many. This investigation exposes how theft at Coast General Hospital thrives under weak oversight, political protection, and an untouchable private security firm.
Records, police reports, and insider accounts reveal a pattern that suggests planning, not coincidence, behind the losses rocking the Mombasa facility.
How Theft at Coast General Hospital Became Normal Business
Coast General Referral Hospital now sits at the centre of a deepening scandal involving the theft of high-value medical equipment and personal property. Multiple sources confirm that criminals exploit known security gaps inside the hospital compound. These gaps persist despite repeated complaints from staff, patients, and visitors.
An exclusive report obtained by this publication shows that thieves removed equipment used in cancer treatment without resistance. Insiders say the losses run into millions of shillings. Hospital management has failed to publish a full inventory or explain how such sensitive machines exited secure zones.
The hospital contracts Dina Security to guard its premises. The firm belongs to Said Abdallah, widely known as Saidoh. Sources inside the hospital allege that Dina Security continues to operate despite repeated failures and internal warnings. Guards admit they lack proper tools, training, and supervision.
Several workers describe poor pay, long shifts, and threats when they raise concerns. They say management discourages incident reporting. They also claim supervisors instruct guards to remain silent when theft occurs. These claims paint a picture of deliberate neglect rather than incompetence.
Documents reviewed show that Dina Security has served the hospital since the tenure of former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. Insiders allege that political ties have shielded the firm from audits and contract reviews. County officials have avoided public scrutiny even after equipment losses affected patient care.
Hospital administrators continue to deny wrongdoing. They blame isolated incidents and careless visitors. Evidence gathered contradicts this narrative and points to a system that allows theft to continue unchecked.
Victim Testimony Reveals Security Collapse After Vehicle Break In at Coast General Hospital
Loice Mwamba, a Nairobi-based businesswoman from Taita County, experienced the hospital’s security failures first-hand. She visited Coast General Referral Hospital on Monday, June 20, 2025, during a family medical emergency involving her mother.
She arrived at about 4:30 a.m. and parked her Subaru Forester in a designated area within the hospital compound. She entered the wards believing the vehicle was safe.
When she returned later that morning, she found the rear left windscreen shattered. Thieves had broken into the vehicle and stolen valuables worth over KSh 121,500.
The stolen items included a jewellery box with watches, earrings, chains, and a necklace. Thieves also took a black handbag with KSh 10,000 in cash, an external hard disk, an Oppo phone, an HP laptop, and personal documents. They also carried away food items.
Ms. Mwamba reported the incident to the guard on duty. The guard claimed ignorance. He said his shift started at 6:00 p.m. and added that no one informed him about the parked vehicle. He described the area as unsecured.
Ms. Mwamba saw no warning signs. She found no notice stating parking was at the owner’s risk. She questioned why the hospital allowed public parking in unprotected zones without disclosure.
Hospital officials dismissed her concerns. They advised her to report the matter to police. She filed a report at Tononoka Police Station under OB number 41/30/6/2025 and later recorded a detailed statement.
Police Records Confirm Pattern
Police records confirm similar reports linked to the hospital. Officers acknowledge challenges in investigations due to lack of cooperation from hospital security. Guards rarely provide CCTV footage or patrol logs. Some cameras reportedly fail during incidents.
Ms. Mwamba believes her case reflects a wider pattern. She calls for accountability from hospital management and the contracted security firm. She demands reforms to protect patients and visitors.
Her account raises serious questions. How do thieves operate freely inside a referral hospital. Who benefits from silence. Why do losses continue without consequence.
Dirty Tender Deals with Security Firm Linked to Untouchable Contracts
Sources allege that illegal tender processes keep Dina Security in place. They claim the firm wins contracts without competitive bidding. Procurement documents remain inaccessible to the public.
Insiders say complaints against the firm never progress. Audits stall. Disciplinary actions disappear. Guards who speak out face transfers or termination.
A senior staff member claims that high-end items vanish and management looks away. The source says Saidoh responds with arrogance when questioned and denies responsibility. This attitude, the source adds, thrives because powerful figures offer protection.
County officials have not explained how critical medical equipment disappears without alarms, escorts, or records. They have not clarified who signs off on security reports after losses.
The silence fuels suspicion that Theft at Coast General Hospital serves private interests. It also erodes trust in public healthcare.
Who Should Answer and What Must Change
The evidence points to deliberate security gaps. It also points to weak oversight and possible collusion. Patients and visitors now fear for their safety and property.
Experts call for an independent audit of all security contracts. They urge a forensic inventory of missing equipment. They demand suspension of firms linked to repeated failures.
County leaders must act. Hospital managers must explain. Law enforcement must investigate without fear.
Until accountability takes root, theft at Coast General Hospital will continue to rob patients, drain public funds, and undermine faith in a vital public institution.
