Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) — Kenya’s Largest Referral Hospital, Upper Hill | Business Listings Kenya

Grace Wanjiku
11 Min Read

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🏥 National Public Referral Hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)

Kenya’s largest and oldest national referral hospital — We Listen, We Care. A teaching hospital for the University of Nairobi serving patients from across East Africa.

📍 Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
🏥 National Public Referral Hospital
🎓 Teaching Hospital — University of Nairobi
☎️ Toll-Free 1521

📋 About Kenyatta National Hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is Kenya’s largest and oldest national referral and teaching hospital, located on Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi. As the country’s premier public hospital, KNH serves as the primary teaching hospital for the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Health Sciences and other institutions including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), while also operating its own KNH School of Nursing offering specialised diploma and certificate courses. The hospital’s mission is to optimise patient experience through innovative, evidence-based specialised healthcare.

KNH provides a comprehensive range of specialist clinical services across virtually every discipline of medicine, from general and specialised surgery to oncology, renal care, cardiology, neurosurgery, and maternity, drawing patients from across Kenya and neighbouring East African countries who are referred here for advanced or complex care unavailable at lower-level facilities. The hospital also operates the Kenyatta National Hospital Private Wing (KPCC), offering a private care option within the same institution. Given its role as a national referral hub, KNH has a dedicated Social Health Authority (SHA) office located within its premises, helping patients navigate registration and claims. The hospital maintains a Service Delivery Charter and an Online Security Incident Reporting Tool as part of its commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.

🏷️ Hospital Details

TypeNational Public Referral & Teaching Hospital
Teaching AffiliationsUniversity of Nairobi, JKUAT, KMTC
AddressHospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
CityNairobi, Kenya
Postal AddressP.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya
Private WingKNH Private Care Consultancy Clinic (KPCC)
Nursing SchoolKNH School of Nursing (Diploma & Certificate Courses)
SHA OfficeOn-Site, Hospital Road, Upper Hill (Registration & Claims Support)
Main Line020 2726300
Mobile0709 854000 / 0730 643000
Toll-Free1521
Hotline020 2737390
Referral Line0719 510510
Disaster Management0797 398094
Emailknhadmin@knh.or.ke
Websiteknh.or.ke

⚙️ Services Offered

🔵 24-Hour Accident & Emergency
🔵 General & Specialised Surgery
🔵 Oncology & Cancer Care
🔵 Renal Unit & Dialysis
🔵 Cardiology
🔵 Neurosurgery
🔵 Maternity & Labour Ward
🔵 Paediatrics
🔵 ICU & Critical Care
🔵 Orthopaedics
🔵 Radiology & Imaging
🔵 Laboratory & Pathology
🔵 KNH Private Wing (KPCC)
🔵 KNH School of Nursing
🔵 On-Site SHA Registration & Claims Support

🕐 Opening Hours

MondayOpen 24 HoursOpen
TuesdayOpen 24 HoursOpen
WednesdayOpen 24 HoursOpen
ThursdayOpen 24 HoursOpen
FridayOpen 24 HoursOpen
SaturdayOpen 24 HoursOpen
SundayOpen 24 HoursOpen
🚨 Emergency and casualty services operate 24/7. KPCC (Private Wing) Customer Service and Admissions Desk have dedicated lines — 020 7244707 (Customer Service) and +254 785 405591 (Admissions Desk).

🗺️ Service Areas

📍 Upper Hill, Nairobi
📍 National Referral — All 47 Counties
🌍 Regional Referrals — East Africa

📸 Photos

Kenyatta National Hospital's main campus on Hospital Road, Upper Hill, NairobiKenyatta National Hospital’s main campus on Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
KNH's Accident & Emergency unit — operational 24/7KNH’s Accident & Emergency unit — operational 24/7
  1. KNH School of Nursing — training the next generation of nurses in KenyaKNH School of Nursing — training the next generation of nurses in Kenya

The SHA office within KNH premises, supporting patient registration and claims

The SHA office within KNH premises, supporting patient registration and claims

Swipe to view more photos

📍 Location & Map

📍 Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya · Get Directions →

📬 Contact Information

🌐 Websiteknh.or.ke
📞 Main Line020 2726300
📞 Mobile0709 854000 / 0730 643000
☎️ Toll-Free1521
📞 Hotline020 2737390
📞 Referral Line0719 510510
📞 KPCC Customer Service020 7244707
📞 KPCC Admissions Desk+254 785 405591
📞 Labour Ward020 2711515
📞 Security Control Room0722 237881
📞 Disaster Management0797 398094
📧 Emailknhadmin@knh.or.ke
📍 AddressHospital Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya

🔗 Social Media

⭐ Reviews & Ratings

3.9
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Patient Rating

KNH’s own Facebook page reports 72% of reviewers recommend the hospital, with many patients citing life-saving specialist care — particularly oncology — after being referred from elsewhere. As Kenya’s largest public referral hospital handling an enormous patient volume, some visitors note that wait times can be long, which is common for facilities of this scale and mandate.

⭐ Leave a Review on Facebook

A
Anonymous Parent
Family of Patient, Nairobi · Verified via KNH Facebook
★★★★★

“Having gone to different hospitals and not getting help, we landed at KNH. My son had a major surgery and was discovered to have kidney cancer. He was well taken care of even after the surgery. Today our miracle boy is grown and in his final year at university. The oncology doctors are the best.”

M
Margaret Achieng
Nursing Student, KNH School of Nursing · February 2026
★★★★★

“Training at KNH School of Nursing has exposed me to real, complex cases at Kenya’s largest referral hospital. The clinical experience is unmatched anywhere else in the country given the sheer volume and diversity of patients.”

S
Samuel Wafula
Referred Patient, Bungoma · December 2025
★★★☆☆

“I was referred here for specialist care and the medical treatment itself was thorough once seen. Given how many patients come through as Kenya’s main national referral hospital, waiting times for certain departments can be long. I understand it’s a resourcing challenge given the scale of what they handle daily.”

R
Ruth Wangui
SHA Beneficiary, Nairobi · September 2025
★★★★★

“Having the SHA office right on the hospital premises made registering and sorting out my claims much easier than I expected. Staff there were patient in explaining the process. Grateful that this level of specialist care is accessible through the public system.”

📝 Share Your Experience

Have you been treated at or trained through Kenyatta National Hospital? Rate them and leave a comment below.





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Reviews are moderated before publishing. Please be honest and respectful.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kenyatta National Hospital accept SHA (Social Health Authority)?

Yes. KNH has a dedicated SHA office located on the hospital premises, Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi, specifically to support SHA registration and claims for patients and visitors at Kenya's largest referral hospital.

Where is Kenyatta National Hospital located?

KNH is on Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi. P.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.

How do I contact KNH?

Call the main line 020 2726300, mobile lines 0709 854000 or 0730 643000, or the toll-free number 1521. For urgent matters, use the hotline 020 2737390 or referral line 0719 510510. Email knhadmin@knh.or.ke.

Does KNH have a private wing?

Yes. KNH operates a Private Care Consultancy Clinic (KPCC), offering private care within the hospital. Contact KPCC Customer Service on 020 7244707 or the Admissions Desk on +254 785 405591.

Does KNH train nurses and doctors?

Yes. KNH is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Health Sciences, JKUAT, and KMTC. It also runs its own KNH School of Nursing, offering Certificate courses for healthcare workers and Higher Diploma courses in specialised nursing.

Is KNH open 24 hours?

Yes. As Kenya's largest national referral hospital, KNH's Accident & Emergency, ICU, and inpatient wards operate 24/7. The Labour Ward can be reached directly on 020 2711515.

Listed on Business.co.ke · Business Listings Kenya · Last Updated: June 2026 ·
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Grace Wanjiku is a commerce writer dedicated to helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) thrive in East Africa. A graduate of Commerce from the University of Nairobi, she focuses on digital banking solutions, mobile money integration, and local market trends across Kenya’s counties. When not analyzing market shifts, Grace manages verified data updates for the Business.co.ke local directory. She can be reached at grace.wanjiku@business.co.ke
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