Several renal patients staged a tree-hugging protest outside Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on January 16, 2026, calling on the government to urgently address their problems.
Led by the Renal Patients Society of Kenya, the patients and transplant survivors said they were grappling with persistent drug shortages, limited medical attention and challenges linked to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
For several hours, the demonstrators hugged a mature indigenous tree within the hospital compound in an effort to draw the attention of the hospital’s management and the public to their concerns.
“Our main concern is the rampant and persistent shortage of post-transplant medication,” said John Gikonyo, president of the Renal Patients Society of Kenya.
He said patients could only access the drugs through the SHA renal package at KNH and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, a situation he described as restrictive and burdensome.
Due to shortages, patients who are entitled to a three-month prescription are sometimes issued with only a two-week supply, forcing them to make frequent and costly trips to Nairobi or Eldoret.
The protesters also raised concerns over the lack of a dedicated payment point, saying they are often forced to move around the hospital for hours to make payments, exposing them to serious health risks. “Most of us are immunocompromised,” he said.
Following the protest, the patients held a meeting with KNH management led by Chief Specialist Dr Joel Lessan.
“We have engaged the patients in my office, reviewed their challenges and agreed to address them progressively,” Dr Lessan said.
Dr Lessan said discussions were also underway to decentralise some services so that patients can access care closer to their homes, reducing travel costs and physical strain.
