Life Care Hospital Eldoret Staff Protest Over Alleged Racism, Toxic Leadership and Unremitted Deductions
Healthcare workers at Life Care Hospital Eldoret have accused management of toxic leadership, understaffing and failure to remit statutory deductions.
Doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at Life Care Hospital Eldoret stage a protest over alleged toxic leadership. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Tension escalated at Life Care Hospital on Monday after doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers staged a public protest accusing the hospital management of toxic leadership, discrimination, staff shortages and failure to remit statutory deductions.
During an emotional press briefing attended by dozens of employees, staff members claimed they had repeatedly raised concerns internally but were allegedly ignored, forcing them to take their grievances public.
Leading the address, medical officer Otieno Ibrahim said workers had endured a hostile working environment for months under the current administration.
“We have a number of concerns and we feel they have not been addressed fully for a long time,” Dr. Ibrahim said.
“Since the change in leadership, there has been a dismissive attitude created by the management. We speak but we think we are not being heard fairly,” he added.
Workers accused hospital leaders of intimidation and dictatorship, alleging that employees who attempt to raise concerns are often silenced or victimized.
“Anytime you go to the meeting, the boss keeps shouting at you and knocking you down. You cannot even express yourself clearly,” one employee alleged
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Healthcare workers also cited severe understaffing, saying the shortage of personnel was forcing doctors and nurses to work excessively long hours, ultimately affecting patient care.
“As medical officers, nurses and employees of this facility, we feel we are understaffed,” Dr. Ibrahim stated.
“Patients are not getting good care because of the understaffing. We are forced to work very long hours. Some staff members are working six days every week continuously,” he added.
Another major concern raised involved allegations that the hospital had been deducting money for medical insurance and statutory contributions without remitting the funds to relevant institutions.
Employees claimed that despite regular deductions from their salaries, many workers were unable to access medical services because their insurance covers were allegedly inactive.
“You can imagine getting sick today and you cannot even receive treatment from the facility where you work,” one worker said.
Staff further alleged that deductions meant for the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Social Health Authority (SHA) and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) had not been remitted for months.
“We want the boards for NSSF, SHA and HELB to come and interrogate this employer,” another employee stated.
The protest also exposed allegations of racial discrimination within the hospital, with several workers claiming that foreign employees were receiving significantly higher salaries compared to Kenyan staff in similar or even junior roles.
“There is a lot of discrimination in payment. There is a lot of racism when it comes to salaries,” one medic alleged.
Workers insisted their concerns were not directed at foreign employees personally but were instead about fairness, transparency and equal treatment in the workplace.
Cardiologist Hazel Nduru said employees had reached a breaking point after repeated internal efforts allegedly failed to produce change.
“All we want today is for the administration to meet us and hear our grievances,” Dr. Nduru said.
“If those demands are not met, then we shall issue a strike notice,” she warned.
Despite the growing tensions, the workers clarified that they had not yet downed their tools and that hospital services were still ongoing.
“We are not downing our tools today. Today we have only come to demand a hearing,” one doctor stated.
The protest ended with workers chanting “Power! Power! Power!” as colleagues and supporters applauded in solidarity.
In response, the hospital management, through Human Resources Unit Head Joshua Rop, acknowledged the unrest and said efforts were underway to address the issues amicably.
“We acknowledge that there were concerns and unrest among some team members today,” the statement read.
Management said no formal written complaints had yet been submitted and urged employees to formally present grievances to enable appropriate review and discussions.
The hospital further stated that senior management representatives would travel to Eldoret for talks with staff once the concerns are officially documented, while also appealing for patience, professionalism and discipline as discussions continue.ng
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