The operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital has been delayed following allegations of procurement irregularities that prompted the World Bank to withhold payments for the project, the Ministry of Health has disclosed.
The ministry’s explanation comes after residents staged a demonstration on Tuesday over the prolonged delay in opening the facility.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the hospital project, which is funded by the World Bank, commenced in 2023 and was originally scheduled for completion in December 2025.
However, the project suffered a major setback in 2024 when the World Bank raised concerns over alleged misprocurement, including claims that some medical equipment had been priced at nearly eleven times their actual cost.
As a result, the bank declined to honour outstanding payments linked to the project, causing delays in completing and operationalising the hospital.
The ministry said it had engaged relevant stakeholders and initiated steps toward commissioning the facility, but those efforts were interrupted when the contractor refused to grant access until all outstanding financial and contractual obligations were settled.
While acknowledging frustrations among residents that led to the protest, the ministry emphasised the critical role the hospital will play in strengthening paediatric healthcare delivery.
It assured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the challenges and appealed to residents of Weija to remain calm as work continues to make the hospital fully operational.
