Nairobi, May 2 -- A botched transition to a new digital management system at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has thrown Kenya's largest referral facility into an operational crisis, leaving patients stranded, medical staff demoralised, and critical services paralysed.

On April 15, the hospital announced the official launch of its Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), declaring it would usher in "a new era where patient care is anchored on seamless, end-to-end digital processes." In its announcement, the hospital said patients would now "be digitally registered, tracked, and managed throughout their care journey, from admission and diagnosis to treatment and discharge, significantly reducing reliance on paper-based records."

It...