However, the hospital is losing its glory to power battles surrounding its top management and the alleged misuse of donor funds.

Last month, doctors and nurses downed their tools after they complained of poor working conditions, a move that put the lives of patients in a perilous situation.

The medical students were also adversely affected.

The medical staff complained to the Minister for Medical Services, Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyongo, to reconstitute a new board, accusing the current one of failing to discharge its duty professionally.

A doctor/medical lecturer who did not want to be named said that the board is headed by Prof. Ruth Oniango whom they say has no background in hospital management.

“Professor Oniang’o is a nutritionist who spent most of her time teaching nutrition at the University of Nairobi. She has no background on how to run a health facility like this.” he said.

But there are those who blame tribalism as the major cause.

Esther Nabwire, an intern says that all problems started immediately the former C.E.O Professor Haroun Mengich’s contract was not renewed.

“All these boils down to tribalism. Immediately the former C.E.O Professor Haroun Mengich’s contract was not renewed and a new Director Dr. Omar Aly was appointed in an acting capacity, locals went on rampage demanding that he be reinstated. To them, it was their tribesman being persecuted and not anything to do with professionalism” She says.

This, according to Nabwire has really affected the patients.

“When you are sick, you know not tribe nor political intrigues. It’s your life you are fighting for,” she adds.

A look at the condition of patients in the hospital reveals that something is amiss. Some of them lie on the floor and unattended.

Even though last week the government appointed a new C.E.O, Dr. John Kibosia in a bid to forestall the crisis, a move that ended the strike by the hospital’s staff, most patients complain of neglect and mistreatment by the staff.

A diabetes patient, Mary Chelagat writhes in pain saying that what she faces in the hospital is not desirable.

“I came here in the hope that I would get good health care, but that’s not the case. It’s suffering. The nurses here are rude to us. We don’t even know what we can do for them to attend to us with respect. You are only lucky if you get a student doctor or nurse” she sadly states.

Donors have threatened to withdraw funding if the power intrigues continue to plague the hospital.

The donors, who deal majorly with HIV/AIDS treatment and care, decry the poor management and the tribal politics that leaders have entrenched in the running of the hospital.

Some of the donors in the hospital include AMPATH (Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare) and the Shoe for Africa Foundation with a funding of 4billion and 1billion respectively.