For nearly a century, St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias was a trusted source of medical care for families across Western Kenya. On June 3, that legacy came to an abrupt end.
The 93-year-old Catholic institution closed its doors after sinking into a financial crisis driven by unpaid government health claims totaling Sh180 million. The closure has left thousands of patients stranded and over 200 employees jobless, cutting off a lifeline for communities in Kakamega, Butere, Bungoma, and Busia.
A Patient’s Struggle
For boda boda rider Thomas Wandera, the collapse of St Mary’s has been devastating. His wife developed birth complications, and instead of finding help at their trusted hospital, he now travels daily to Kakamega County General Hospital, leaving home at 5 a.m. to be by her side.
“We’ve always depended on St Mary’s whenever my wife was pregnant because it was close to home. Now it’s gone because the Social Health Authority hasn’t settled claims for months,” Wandera said.
Mounting Debts and Unpaid Claims
According to Kakamega Catholic Bishop Joseph Obanyi, the Social Health Authority (SHA) owes the hospital Sh40 million for services rendered in the last 10 months. The now-defunct NHIF left behind another Sh140 million debt.
“Without funds, we cannot pay staff or buy supplies,” Bishop Obanyi explained. “Delayed or missing government payments gradually strangled the hospital.”
The hospital initially relied on savings to stay afloat, but once those ran out, staff endured months without salaries. Eventually, they downed tools, paralyzing services.
Workers in Distress
More than 200 staff members—including nurses, clinicians, pharmacists, and support staff—went on strike in July after four months without pay. They also cited unpaid medical insurance contributions, non-remitted statutory deductions, and poor working conditions.
- “Most of us cannot pay rent or send our children to school,” said nurse Aisha Mukhwana, adding that many face eviction.
- “Our houses leak when it rains, and management ignores us,” lamented Dr Pilla Wekesa.
- Clinician Kelvin Kiptoo urged government oversight, arguing that private hospitals were being neglected.
Leaders Demand Action
The closure has sparked political and public outcry.
- Former Health Minister Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, who credits St Mary’s with saving his brother’s life, described the shutdown as tragic.
- Senator Boni Khalwale accused President William Ruto’s administration of ignoring warnings about SHA’s weaknesses.
- Governor Fernandes Barasa called on Health CS Aden Duale to fix SHA’s payment policies, particularly for faith-based and private hospitals.
Founded in 1932 by the Ursuline Sisters of Bergen under the Kenya Episcopal Conference, St Mary’s began as a small dispensary and grew into a Level 4 teaching and referral hospital. It trained healthcare workers and offered specialized treatment to thousands, becoming a symbol of hope for generations.
Now, patients are forced into overstretched public hospitals or left untreated at home. For many low-income families, healthcare has suddenly become out of reach.
A National Problem
St Mary’s closure highlights a deeper healthcare crisis. On August 7, private hospitals nationwide announced they would stop treating civil servants on credit after enduring nine months without payment from SHA.
SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi has acknowledged the failures and promised efforts to fast-track payments. But for St Mary’s, it may be too late.
Bishop Obanyi issued a sobering warning:
“For 93 years, this hospital served our people. Now, lack of payment by NHIF and SHA has deprived a whole community of care, while workers and their families have lost their livelihoods.”
