Senior Counsel Nelson Havi has sparked fresh debate following the death of veteran gynaecologist Job Obwaka, suggesting that recent state actions may have contributed to the doctor’s decline.
Dr Obwaka, a long-serving director at Nairobi Hospital, died on Friday, May 1, after weeks of illness that began shortly after his arrest in March.
His death has drawn attention to the ongoing leadership and governance disputes surrounding the hospital.
In a statement, Havi accused the government of interference and intimidation, linking it directly to the late doctor’s health deterioration.
“Harassment by the Government of Kenya, its interference with the management of the Nairobi Hospital, and trumped up charges on the same definitely accelerated the deterioration of the health of Dr Job Obwaka and his untimely death. I am sad and annoyed,” Havi said.
Dr Obwaka’s health troubles began after he was arrested in mid-March over allegations related to the management of the Kenya Hospital Association, the body that runs Nairobi Hospital.
He later collapsed at the Milimani Law Courts while awaiting arraignment, before being admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit. His condition reportedly worsened over the following weeks.
Havi’s remarks add a political and legal dimension to the circumstances surrounding the doctor’s death, raising questions about the handling of the case by state agencies.
His comments are likely to intensify scrutiny of the government’s role in the Nairobi Hospital dispute, which has in recent months exposed deep divisions within the institution’s leadership.
The controversy has also reignited concerns within sections of the medical community, some of whom had earlier questioned the arrest of senior hospital officials and its potential impact on healthcare governance.
Dr Obwaka is remembered as a pioneer in obstetrics and gynaecology in Kenya, with a career spanning decades.
His passing now leaves behind not only a professional legacy, but also an unresolved debate over accountability, due process, and the intersection of law and health in high-profile institutional disputes.