A fresh political confrontation has emerged between DAP Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and President William Ruto, following the President’s strong remarks targeting opposition leaders over governance challenges at the Nairobi Hospital.
President Ruto, while addressing the issue, dismissed his critics as “brainless,” accusing them of exploiting the situation for political mileage.
He defended his involvement as the hospital’s patron, warning that individuals he described as “fraudsters, charlatans, and conmen” would face legal consequences.
“To the brainless opposition, the governance challenges at the Nairobi Hospital were nothing more than an opportunity to scavenge for cheap headlines and attention,” Ruto said.
He added that he would not allow the institution to be undermined, promising decisive action to restore order and protect its legacy of integrity and excellence.
In a swift response, Wamalwa challenged both the tone and substance of the President’s remarks, arguing that they reflect a misunderstanding of governance structures in private institutions.
“Brainless is he who doesn’t know the difference between a private and public hospital,” Wamalwa said, directly rebutting the President’s comments. He emphasized that the role of a patron is largely ceremonial and does not grant authority over management or board decisions.
The former Cabinet Secretary further accused the President of overstepping his mandate by attempting to influence a private healthcare institution while, in his view, failing to address challenges in public hospitals.
He cited key referral facilities, including Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), which he claimed are struggling under government oversight.
“Brainless is he who has been given the powers by Kenyans to ensure affordable and quality healthcare under Article 43 of the Constitution, yet has overseen the decline of major referral hospitals and is now attempting to hijack private institutions,” Wamalwa said.
Wamalwa also linked the dispute to broader political concerns, accusing the President of failing to deliver on development promises, particularly in western Kenya.
He argued that recent engagements in the region have been marked more by political attacks than tangible outcomes.