KENYA – AAR Hospital, located along Kiambu Road, has officially joined the Blue Company Project, a significant initiative comprising various organizations committed to combating corruption within the private sector.
This new partnership aligns the hospital with other prominent entities, including Nation Media Group, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, and Jubilee Insurance, all of which share a common goal of promoting transparency and integrity in business operations.
Dr. Aysha Edwards, the Chief Executive Officer of AAR Hospital, emphasized that this collaboration would strengthen the hospital’s ongoing efforts to eradicate corruption.
She noted that the institution is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace, free from discrimination based on tribe, gender, religion, race, creed, age, or sexual orientation.
According to a statement on the hospital’s website, credibility is a core pillar guiding AAR’s decision-making process, as enshrined in their values and ethical guidelines.
The hospital actively promotes high ethical standards and works to combat corruption and other serious irregularities.
AAR Hospital recognizes the inherent risks faced by whistleblowers, which may include victimization or, in extreme cases, threats to life.
To safeguard whistleblowers, the hospital has implemented an encrypted reporting channel that allows individuals to anonymously report suspected irregularities.
This whistleblowing service complements existing internal reporting channels while ensuring confidentiality.
The Blue Company Project: Background and Objectives
Founded by Nizar Juma in 2018, the Blue Company Project aims to rally private sector leaders and organizations around the fight against corruption.
The initiative encourages companies to take a stand against corruption in all its forms through capacity-building activities and by reinforcing the judicial and political frameworks necessary for accountability.
Since its inception, the Blue Company Project has attracted over 500 members across East Africa.
Participants are required to adhere to a human resource policy that includes immediate dismissal for employees involved in bribery, ensuring that ethical standards are strictly upheld.
Additionally, the initiative has sponsored the Bribery Bill in Parliament, which aims to establish specific requirements for private entities regarding bribery prevention.
AAR Hospital’s Anti-Bribery Measures
In line with the Blue Company Project’s guidelines, AAR Hospital has instituted a maximum value of Sh. 5,000 (approx. US $39) for non-branded gifts, with any exceeding this amount required to be returned or refused.
All employees must also undergo specialized training from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to implement effective anti-bribery and whistleblower policies.
Edwards affirmed that the hospital maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward bribery and corruption, a commitment firmly outlined in their HR manual.
Transforming healthcare in Kenya
Established in 1963, AAR Hospital is one of the few large-scale private healthcare facilities in Nairobi, boasting a capacity of 140 beds and offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services.
The facility is set to revolutionize the private healthcare landscape in the region, contributing significantly to the Kenyan government’s Big Four Agenda aimed at achieving universal healthcare coverage.
The construction of AAR Hospital involved extensive collaboration among over 30 project teams from consulting and contracting sectors, beginning in February 2019.
The project, situated just 8 km from Nairobi’s central business district, is designed to provide quality secondary healthcare that complements the government’s primary healthcare initiatives.
