Lamu’s New Private Hospital Wing Raises Questions Over Public Health Priorities

A private inpatient wing opened at King Fahd County Referral Hospital in Lamu is prompting debate over access, equity and the use of public health resources.

The facility, known as Timamy Suites, opened in October 2025 after a delay caused by a medics’ strike. It is the first private wing integrated into Lamu County’s main public hospital. The project cost Sh22.5 million and consists of five ensuite rooms with private amenities, ocean-facing balconies and upgraded medical equipment.

Patients are charged Sh6,000 per night. 

Those registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) receive a 50 percent subsidy, while private insurers cover the full cost for insured patients. County officials say the wing is intended to generate revenue to support public healthcare services. 

Deputy Governor and Health Executive Mbarak Bahjaj said funds raised from higher-income patients are reinvested in public wards and hospital supplies. According to the county, the wing generated Sh1.8 million in its first three months, which has been used to restock the hospital pharmacy.

Some patients and families have welcomed the initiative. Stanley Makau, whose wife was admitted to the private wing following surgery, said the environment supported her recovery. Other patients in the general wards said the hospital should be able to offer services to people with different financial means.

However, criticism has come from patients who say basic needs in public wards remain unmet. Halima Sharishari, recovering from pregnancy-related surgery, said she continues to buy medication out of pocket despite being registered with SHA. She questioned why limited resources were directed to private rooms rather than essential drugs not covered by the scheme.

Similar concerns were raised by residents who rely on smaller health facilities. Bidii Kiponda said centres such as Mokowe Health Centre remain understaffed and poorly supplied, forcing patients to purchase medicines from private pharmacies.

Health professionals have also questioned the sustainability of the project. 

Dr Ahmed Hassan, a physician with nearly 40 years’ experience, said the investment may not deliver sufficient returns given the hospital’s location and low occupancy. He noted that many residents live on the mainland or remote islands, where transport to the hospital can cost more than Sh2,000.

Dr Hassan said the wing averages about three patients per day and argued that comparable models work better in larger referral hospitals such as Coast General Hospital or Kenyatta National Hospital. He suggested the funds would have been better spent upgrading general wards and equipping health centres in areas such as Mokowe, Hindi and Mpeketoni.

The development has also revived debate over two-tier healthcare within public institutions. Patients’ rights advocate Stacy Korir warned that private wings can deepen inequality if not carefully regulated. She said there is a risk that specialists may prioritise private patients, reducing attention to public wards.

Under regulations from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, private wings in public hospitals must be separately licensed and managed. How effectively these rules will be enforced in Lamu remains uncertain.

The county government says it is also investing in public facilities and plans to complete Sh25 million worth of renovations in general wards by mid-2026.