Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring public trust in county health services, following a high-level engagement with leadership and staff at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The governor’s address comes just days after the suspension of the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Iqbal Kandwala, a move that has intensified scrutiny over service delivery standards at the county’s main referral facility.
Khandwallah was suspended indefinitely and replaced by Sood Mohamed in an acting capacity pending a full governance review process.
This followed concerns raised by Machele over leadership and service delivery at the facility after the death of one of his NG-CDF staff members at the hospital.
During his meeting with hospital leadership and staff, Governor Nassir emphasized the responsibility health workers carry in serving residents of Mombasa.
“I held a candid engagement today with the leadership and staff of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital to reaffirm our core duty: restoring public trust through reliable, compassionate care,” the governor said. “We reviewed service delivery standards and the responsibility each of us carries to the people of Mombasa who depend on this facility every day.”
In a firm directive, the governor ordered immediate and full compliance with his Executive Order requiring that all children under the age of five receive free treatment in every public hospital across the county.
“This is non-negotiable,” he stated. “Any officer who defies this directive will face firm disciplinary action.”
The order is aimed at reducing financial barriers to healthcare for vulnerable families and reinforcing the county’s commitment to equitable access to medical services.
Governor Nassir also announced that on Monday, the county government will commission a new County Call Center alongside on-site Customer Care Desks at health facilities. The initiative is designed to provide residents with a direct line to the governor’s office to report service gaps, raise concerns, and monitor how issues are resolved.
“Accountability in health care is not optional, it is the foundation of public service,” he said.
The developments signal a renewed push by the county administration to tighten oversight, strengthen governance, and rebuild confidence in public health institutions following recent leadership changes at the county’s flagship hospital.
