This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
Published on August 6, 2020, a tenancy row between Laser Eye Centre and Sarit Centre has left over 70 patients without access to scheduled surgeries.
Dr Mukesh Joshi, the founder of Laser Eye Centre, expressed his grief over the treatment his facility has been subjected to by its landlord during a National Assembly Health committee hearing.
The hospital had scheduled 73 patients for cataract, argon laser, and trabeculectomy surgeries this week, but the operations have been cancelled due to the dispute.
The National Assembly took interest in the matter following a request by Othaya MP James Gichuki Mugambi, and Sarit Centre managers will appear before the committee virtually on Thursday.
Senior government officials may also be summoned to explain their stance on the issue, which could potentially see a level-four hospital closed.
Laser Eye Centre claims it is unable to move out of Sarit Centre due to equipment that can only be dismantled and reassembled by specialists from the manufacturers, who are restricted from travelling due to Covid-19 pandemic regulations.
Sarit Centre, however, argues that it issued a notice of lease non-renewal to Laser Eye Centre last year and that the hospital should have made prior arrangements to leave the mall.
The case will be heard at the Court of Appeal next Monday after Chief Justice David Maraga set a three-judge bench to determine it.
