Njue denies interest in hospital
PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH A woman at the St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway in September.
What you need to know:
- Cardinal Njue and the Assumption Sisters are embroiled in a row over the ownership of the hospitals with a missionary doctor, who claims he established the health centres using donor funds
- The hospitals, located in Lang’ata, Nairobi, and Elementaita in Nakuru, offer affordable medical services targeting the poor
- The High Court in Nakuru has extended orders restraining the Assumption Sisters from interfering with the running of hospital until the matter is heard and determined
Nairobi Catholic Archbishop John Cardinal Njue on Monday denied having any interest in the multi-billion St Mary’s Mission hospitals.
Cardinal Njue and the Assumption Sisters are embroiled in a row over the ownership of the hospitals with a missionary doctor, who claims he established the health centres using donor funds.
Dr William Charles Fryda, a priest, recently moved to court citing harassment from the two.
In his witness statement, Dr Fryda claimed that he made arrangements with the Assumption Sisters, who he incorporated as trustees for the purpose of registration of the land where the hospitals are situated, since he is a foreigner.
A trespasser
The registration, according to him, was to be transferred later to a limited company called St Mary’s Mission Hospital. But this never happened because the Sisters called him a trespasser.
He also alleged that the head of the Catholic Church in Kenya and Sr Marie Therese Gachambi of the Assumption Sisters registered Pacis University College — a private institution — using title deeds for the hospitals’ land.
By registering the college, Dr Fryda said, Cardinal Njue and Sr Gachambi were seeking to take over the property of St Mary’s Mission Hospital.
He provided documents showing that the college is owned by the cardinal and seven other people, including Sr Gachambi.
He further accused the prelate of trying to influence him to resolve the dispute out of court.
But Cardinal Njue has termed the allegations as false and accused Dr Fryda of malice.
He said the allegation that they registered a private university was intended to injure his reputation and put him in disrepute.
He also denied claims by the priest that he had sought to have him deported.
Cardinal Njue said that his position has always been to seek a solution to the dispute by way of arbitration.
Sr Gacambi, on her part, said that at no time was St Mary’s Mission Hospital intended to belong to Dr Fryda.
According to her, the congregation of the Assumption Sisters gave instructions for the incorporation of the limited company.
She also disowned Dr Fryda’s claim that he has been managing the hospitals, saying that the health facility is run by a duly constituted board.
The hospitals, located in Lang’ata, Nairobi, and Elementaita in Nakuru, offer affordable medical services targeting the poor.
At the same time, the High Court in Nakuru has extended orders restraining the Assumption Sisters from interfering with the running of hospital until the matter is heard and determined.
