KNH has turned 106 years and it had its Centenary Celebration in 2001. The Hospital was built to fulfil the role of being a National Referral and Teaching Hospital, as well as to provide medical research environment. Established in 1901 with a bed capacity of 40, KNH became a State Corporation in 1987 with a Board of Management and is at the apex of the referral system in the Health Sector in Kenya.

It covers an area of 45.7 hectares and within the KNH complex are College of Health Sciences (University of Nairobi); the Kenya Medical Training College; Kenya Medical Research Institute and National Laboratory Service (Ministry of Health).

KNH has 50 wards, 22out-patient clinics, 24 theatres (16 specialised) and Accident & Emergency Department. Out of the total bed capacity of 1800, 209 beds are for the Private Wing.

Kenyatta National Hospital can't afford to see organizations employees’ being unproductive due to lack of access to reliable healthcare services or worrying when they are ill and when they will be treated. We certainly don’t want them traveling to a foreign country for diagnosis and treatment that could be performed here.

KNH has developed gender and disability mainstreaming policies to manage and take care of divergence in employees’ diversity within the Hospital. These initiatives are geared to provide a strong organization foundation as a social entity that is responsive to community, Nation and the global social issues as well as increase productivity and improve the corporate personality of the Hospital.