Nakuru County Sets Ambitious Health Expansion Plan with Sh498 Million Investment

The Nakuru County Government has launched a significant construction initiative to build two Level 4 hospitals in Kuresoi North and Rongai subcounties. The project, valued at Sh498 million, is part of a broader Sh2 billion upgrade program spearheaded by Governor Susan Kihika to revolutionize healthcare facilities across eleven subcounties.

Health Chief Executive Committee (CEC) member Roselyn Mungai unveiled the plans, emphasizing that the state-of-the-art hospitals will significantly improve medical care in the region. The facilities are expected to be operational within the next 24 months, marking a substantial investment in the county’s healthcare infrastructure.

The Rongai Level 4 hospital, situated on a site once designated for a trauma center, is allocated a budget of Sh249.8 million. This facility will provide comprehensive medical services, including a modern maternity and neonatal wing, a pharmacy, X-ray machines, and advanced laboratories. It will also feature outpatient units, accident and emergency departments, imaging centers, and surgical theaters.

Similarly, the Kuresoi North Level 4 hospital, with a budget of Sh248.2 million, will be equipped with a wide range of medical services and modern facilities. The two-storey hospital will include an outpatient block, a 100-bed inpatient department, two surgical theaters, a maternity wing, and various specialized services.

Mungai highlighted that these hospitals will cater to over 500,000 residents from Rongai, Njoro, Molo, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, and surrounding areas. The facilities will offer a comprehensive range of services including trauma and emergency care, obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, pharmacy, radiology, radiotherapy, and minor surgery. This expansion aims to alleviate the burden on the Nakuru Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital, which currently serves patients from eight counties in the South Rift region.

In addition to these new hospitals, Nakuru County is also investing in other healthcare facilities. This includes the Sh650 million outpatient facility at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, the Sh40 million center of excellence for mental health care at Gilgil Subcounty Hospital, and the Sh60 million Level 4 health facility at Karuswa in Bahati Subcounty.

Other ongoing projects include the Sh60 million outpatient complex at Olenguruone Health Centre and the Sh330 million outpatient complex at Naivasha Subcounty Referral Hospital, a joint initiative with the national government and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). The Naivasha facility is expected to be operational within the next three months.

The strategic investments in these healthcare facilities are part of Nakuru County’s broader effort to overhaul its health sector and improve emergency response capabilities. The county administration’s goal is to modernize subcounty hospitals to ease the congestion at Nakuru Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital, which handles around 2,000 patients daily, including 750 inpatients.

Mungai pointed out that the increased influx of referrals from other hospitals and health centers within the Rift Valley region necessitates the expansion of healthcare services. By developing modern healthcare units, Nakuru aims to offer high-quality and affordable diagnostic, management, and treatment services to its residents.

Nakuru County currently operates 184 health facilities, including dispensaries, health centers, Level 4 hospitals, and the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital. The ongoing construction and upgrading efforts signify a substantial commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and meeting the growing medical needs of the region.