How Cartels That Were Kicked Out of KUTRRH Are Fighting Back

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) The cartels that were kicked out of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) recently are not taking it lightly. After years of running unchecked deals inside the hospital, they’re now pushing back — hard. Before changes were introduced, procurement at the hospital was more or less a free-for-all. Basic rules didn’t apply. Suppliers were handpicked, paperwork was questionable, and contracts were awarded in ways that completely ignored the law. Nearly everything was single-sourced. What was supposed to be open competition under public procurement law became a one-supplier-per-category operation. The rules under the 2015 procurement act clearly state that a minimum of seven vendors should be pre-qualified per framework. But at KUTRRH, each category had just one — meaning real competition never existed. And now that the tap has been turned off, the people who built their fortunes off that setup are trying to break the system again. Fake Signatures, Backdated Contracts It gets worse. Some contracts at the hospital are said to have been signed by people who weren’t even employees at the time. That means documents were either forged, backdated, or signed using names of people who hadn't joined the payroll yet. The only reason that happens is to create cover for deals that were already agreed on behind the scenes. That kind of move isn’t just unethical. It’s criminal. Goods Delivered Without Contracts Suppliers connected to the old network were delivering goods without any signed agreements. They still got paid. Meanwhile, proper vendors were being blocked or made to go through endless processes just to be told no. This was not a procurement unit. It was a private club. A Car Bought Without Following Rules Even the hospital’s vehicle wasn’t bought the right way. It was acquired using a basic quotation, with no technical inspection. Worse, the vehicle wasn’t even new — which goes against the clear policy that only zero-mileage units should be purchased unless otherwise approved. It’s the kind of move that shows just how confident the insiders were. No fear. No oversight. Just direct access. Cancer Centre Was Their Main Target The hospital’s cancer centre was their prize. That’s where the money is. And that’s where some of the most suspicious contracts came from. One of the firms that won a major tender was less than a year old. The tender documents said all applicants needed at least three years of financial records. So how did this company qualify? There were no joint ventures. No visible partnerships. Just a company that somehow checked a box it couldn’t possibly meet. Meanwhile, a separate distributor offering the same medical products at half the price was blocked. Why? Because they refused to pay kickbacks. And in this setup, that’s the real red flag — not pricing, not quality, just your willingness to pay. Whistleblowers Targeted, Not Protected Since the reforms began, those behind the old system have shifted their energy. They’re no longer hiding. They’re attacking. People involved in exposing the mess are being isolated, transferred, and in some cases, pushed out completely. Oversight agencies are quiet. Some insiders say it’s because the same people who lost their grip inside the hospital are now trying to use external networks to reverse the changes. The goal is simple. Bring back the old routine. Let the deals flow again. Let public funds keep moving through private hands. The Call for Intervention This situation has now reached a level that demands urgent national attention. Multiple institutions have been asked to intervene and stop the powerful networks trying to rebuild their control inside the hospital. These include: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) The Presidency The Head of Public Service (HoPS) The Cabinet Secretary for Health The Principal Secretary for Medical Services