The History of Kenyatta National Hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), located in Nairobi, Kenya, stands as the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa. With a remarkable bed capacity of 1,800 and a dedicated staff of over 6,000, KNH is a testament to the growth and transformation of healthcare services in Kenya. However, the hospital’s history dates back to a time of profound injustice and disparity in healthcare access during the colonial era. 

The Era of Colonial Injustice 

In the early years of colonialism, the healthcare landscape in Kenya was marred by segregation and inequality. Europeans were given priority in accessing health services, while Africans and Asians faced significant obstacles to receiving medical care. This discriminatory approach was rooted in the colonial administration’s view that Africans and Asians were temporary residents in urban areas. As such, their social needs were deemed unimportant, and they were supposed to fend for themselves. 

This policy of selective care exposed Africans moving to Nairobi for wage labour to substantial health risks, as they were denied access to Western healthcare services. This denial, combined with the disruption of traditional lifestyles due to colonization, led to an interference with the traditional health practices that Africans had developed to address prevailing health issues.  

The Humble Beginnings of Native Civil Hospital 

In 1901, the Native Civil Hospital was established to solely provide curative services rather than preventive ones to Africans employed by the colonial government. Located at the intersection of Government Road (now Moi Avenue) and Kingsway Avenue (now University Way), this hospital, with a capacity of 40 beds underscored the administration’s neglect of Africans’ well-being. As a result, its conditions were far from adequate. It was understaffed and poorly equipped, with leaking roofs, inadequate sanitation, and overall substandard facilities. These conditions characterized the Native Civil Hospital, a reflection of the colonial administration’s interest in maintaining a status quo of inequality. 

World War I and Its Impact on Healthcare Policies 

The outbreak of World War I exposed the British Colonial Government’s unpreparedness to deal with a sudden influx of people to Nairobi. Given that the only existing five hospitals in Nairobi and their staff were barely enough to meet the needs of the population, the British Colonial government had to do something to save the lives of the large soldier population that had converged in the capital. 

Consequently, new temporary hospitals were put up in the town to cater for the medical needs of the soldiers. These included the Kings African Rifles (K.A.R.) Military Hospital on Railway Hill off Ngong Road, the British Military Hospital in Kabete, and several others. The war brought Europeans in closer proximity to Africans than before. Through this close but limited interaction, the colonial government was forced to improve healthcare services to Africans to limit the possibility of infections spreading to Europeans. Consequently, the Native Civil Hospital began offering preventive services and extended its provision to Africans who were not directly employed in European plantations or government positions.  

Dismantling Racial Health Policies 

The need for broader healthcare services prompted the idea of improving conditions at the Native Civil Hospital. In 1922, the hospital was relocated to the site that had served as the K.A.R. Military Hospital during the First World War (the current location of the Kenya Medical Training Centre). The old hospital building was converted to the Nairobi General Dispensary, offering out-patient services and referrals to the Native Civil Hospital, but was shut down in the 1940s. 

Around this time, the idea of a establishing the Nairobi Group Hospital Scheme – a hospital that would cater to all races in the same area, albeit not under the same roof – was raised, but finding a suitable location proved to be a challenge and the proposal was shelved. The group hospital idea was revived in the late 1930s, with the selected site being right next to the new Native Civil Hospital. The first block, the African Wing, of the Nairobi Group Hospital Scheme was completed and opened on March 11th 1947. The Asian community also contributed to this vision by funding a 123-bed hospital in this vicinity. In 1952, the Native Civil Hospital and the whole complex of the Nairobi Group Hospital Scheme was renamed the King George VI Hospital in honour of the recently deceased British monarch.  

King George VI Hospital. Image credit: KNH

Kenyatta National Hospital: A Beacon of Excellence 

Over the years, King George VI Hospital continued to grow and evolve. During the state of emergency, it played a role in treating wounded Mau Mau fighters, reflecting its commitment to providing care to all Kenyans. New facilities were integrated into the hospital thus expanding the hospital’s capabilities. These included the Infectious Disease Hospital in 1957, and Orthopedic Unit established at the site of the British Military Hospital in Kabete.  

On April 17th, 1964, the hospital was renamed Kenyatta National Hospital. This turning point in its history was cemented when the hospital’s three main functions were outlined: serving as the national referral hospital, providing facilities for teaching, and fostering research. 

Triumph Over Injustice 

Kenyatta National Hospital’s journey from its inception in a time of colonial injustice to its current position as a premier healthcare institution in East and Central Africa exemplifies the power of policy change in the pursuit of equality. The hospital’s transformation signifies a commitment to providing comprehensive and equitable healthcare to all Kenyans—a mission that resonates with the ideals of independence and progress that the nation has embraced since gaining freedom from colonial rule. 

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Image credit: KNH