Nakuru's Sisto Mazzoldi Hospital downgraded to level 3 over fraud allegations
The hospital remains under active investigation and has been suspended from providing services under the SHA framework until the inquiries are concluded.
The Ministry of Health has downgraded Sisto Mazzoldi Hospital in Nakuru County from Level IV to Level III following investigations into alleged fraudulent claims submitted to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The hospital remains under active investigation and has been suspended from providing services under the SHA framework until the inquiries are concluded.
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This decision followed a thorough audit of the hospital’s human resources, service range, and infrastructure to ensure institutions are classified according to their true capacity to deliver healthcare services.
"Every Kenyan has the right to quality healthcare, and no one should be exposed to harm while accessing essential services," Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Health emphasised that the suspension and downgrade aim to protect public resources and maintain service quality.
In November 2025, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) conducted a comprehensive regulatory assessment and officially reclassified the hospital to Level III based on its current capabilities.
Following additional allegations of malpractice reported in the media, Duale has directed the KMPDC to initiate a fresh, detailed investigation. The Council is authorised to take the strictest disciplinary action under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Rules if any wrongdoing is confirmed.
An investigative media report on Sisto Mazzoldi Hospital, often referred to as Wards of Evil, revealed a series of serious allegations.
The investigation highlighted repeated negligence and patient harm, showing that the hospital frequently failed to provide proper medical care to patients, including mothers and newborns. This neglect reportedly led to injuries and deaths that could have been prevented with appropriate attention.
The report also suggested that some procedures and patient records appeared to be ghost or fabricated, meaning the hospital allegedly claimed to have carried out services that either didn’t happen or were misrepresented, possibly to gain financial benefits such as insurance payouts.
In addition, the hospital was accused of using its identity as a faith-based institution to justify poor care or deflect responsibility, presenting itself as a place of spiritual healing while failing to meet basic medical standards.
Several hospitals have been downgraded under the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework in 2025. According to official statements from the Health Principal Secretary for Medical Services, 301 health facilities were downgraded after inspections found they were operating above their appropriate level and not providing the full range of services expected at their registered level.
These downgrades were carried out by the KMPDC in collaboration with SHA and other health bodies to correct mismatches in classification.
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