Nakuru County Repossesses War Memorial Hospital After Lease Expiry

On 27 October 2023, the County Government of Nakuru formally repossessed Nakuru War Memorial Hospital, bringing to a close more than a century of management by the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital Trust and marking one of the most consequential decisions on public land and healthcare in the county’s recent history.

The repossession followed the expiry of the hospital’s 99-year lease, granted in 1922. County officials maintained that the lease had lapsed in April 2021 and that the land should revert to the government for public use. They argued that the property, which also accommodates the PGH Annex and lies adjacent to State House Nakuru, was required for the planned expansion of public healthcare services, including the development of a Level 6 referral hospital.

The county government also challenged the validity of a subsequent lease extension, leading to investigations and legal proceedings over the renewal process. Following administrative action by the Lands Registry, county officials moved to take possession of the hospital on 27 October 2023, restoring control of the property to the public sector.

The repossession represented a major milestone in Nakuru’s healthcare history, reflecting the growing role of county governments in managing public assets following devolution. It also highlighted the complex legal and historical questions surrounding colonial-era leaseholds, charitable trusts, and public land administration in Kenya.

Although legal proceedings arising from the dispute continued after the repossession, the events of 27 October 2023 remain a defining moment in the history of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital and the county’s efforts to expand public healthcare infrastructure.

Historical significance

The repossession of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital marked a defining moment in the history of Nakuru County, highlighting the growing responsibility of devolved governments in managing public land and healthcare infrastructure. Beyond the legal dispute, the event reflected the county's efforts to reclaim strategically located public assets to meet the healthcare needs of a rapidly growing population. It also reignited public debate about the legacy of colonial-era land leases, the governance of charitable institutions, and the balance between preserving historic institutions and expanding public services. For the people of Nakuru, the hospital's closure represented the loss of a trusted medical facility that had served generations of families, making the repossession both a milestone in public administration and a significant chapter in the county's social and healthcare history.