Police are investigating a break-in at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret, where thieves stole equipment valued at Sh3 million. The robbery, which occurred early Wednesday morning, involved suspects accessing the hospital’s theatre room and fleeing with several machines.
Staff arriving at work discovered the door to the theatre room ajar and later found that the ultrasound machine, diathermy machine, and two neuroscope machines were missing. The door had not been locked the previous day but was found intact without signs of forced entry.
Authorities are treating the incident as potentially involving an insider and are conducting interviews with hospital staff. No arrests have been made yet, but police are determined to identify those responsible and recover the stolen equipment. They have also warned potential buyers of the stolen property to face severe consequences.
The incident has further strained Mediheal Hospital, which is already grappling with issues such as staff strikes, salary delays, and a significant drop in patient numbers. The facility, which has been vital for providing affordable complex surgeries like kidney transplants and contributing to the local economy, has faced mounting challenges amid political tensions in the region.
The hospital’s employees have called for urgent intervention to address these difficulties and support the institution.
Mediheal operates 10 hospitals in major towns including Nairobi, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru and in Kigali, Rwanda.
It has more than 1,000 employees who have been pleading for help to stabilize the facility owned by politician Swarrup Mishra.