Kericho County has recorded a major milestone in the enhancement of maternal and child health services following the commissioning and handover of a newly completed 25-bed Mother and Child Unit at Sosiot Hospital in Waldai Ward, Belgut Sub-County.
The facility, constructed through support from the Mpesa Foundation, was officially received by Kericho County Governor Dr. Eric Mutai during a ceremony also presided over by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and hosted by Belgut MP Mr Nelson Koech.
Governor Mutai said the comprehensive unit, complete with a modern newborn section, delivery rooms, recovery spaces and other essential amenities, marks a transformative boost to service delivery in the county.
“We are grateful to the Mpesa Foundation for the newly completed 25-bed Mother and Child Unit at Sosiot hospital, a project made possible through the valuable networking efforts of area MP and Kericho Senator,” Dr. Mutai said.
The Governor revealed that his administration has already deployed adequate personnel and stocked the facility with all essential pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals to ensure full operationalization.
He explained that the investment will complement the recently completed modern theatre and the Radiology Unit, alongside the ongoing construction of a Sh157 million Mother and Child Unit at the Kericho County Referral Hospital, all of which collectively advance the county’s mission to expand maternal and child health infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the governor assured that progress is steadily advancing on the Sh358 million Non-Communicable Disease Centre under construction at the County Referral Hospital as part of a broader government agenda to strengthen specialized healthcare services.
Dr. Mutai disclosed that once completed, the complex will host a modern oncology centre, a fully equipped radiology wing, inpatient wards, isolation units, a seven-bed ICU, a state-of-the-art theatre, a dedicated burns unit, offices and specialist consultation rooms.
At the same time, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot emphasized that the new Sosiot facility represents a decisive step toward safeguarding the health of mothers, newborns and adolescents within Belgut and beyond.
“Today, Kericho proclaimed a significant step in not only securing the health of the most vulnerable, but equally ensuring the long-term sustainability of the overall wellbeing of the community with the commissioning of the Sosiot Mother and Child Unit,” he said.
He pointed out that maternal and child health remains a foundational indicator that directly influences growth, development and life expectancy, hence the profound importance attached to the new Sosiot facility.
By Kibe Mburu
