Safaricom Foundation, in partnership with the Mombasa County government, has launched the construction of a new maternity wing at Likoni Level 4 Hospital aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare services in the area.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir thanked Safaricom’s M-Pesa Foundation for supporting the county’s health initiatives.
He said the new facility will accommodate 50 beds, up from the current 16, and will include a newborn unit and an intensive care unit (ICU) for children.
“Safaricom has invested Sh37 million to construct the hospital and Sh13 million to equip the new wing,” said the governor. “Likoni’s population has grown significantly, and the existing hospital can no longer meet the area’s healthcare needs.”
Safaricom’s Chief Business Enterprise Officer, Franklin Okata, said the initiative forms part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations under its M-Pesa Foundation programmes, which focus on education, health, and economic empowerment.
“This Sh50 million maternity wing will ensure women have a safe and dignified place to deliver,” said Okata. “We are committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality through improved facilities. Under our ‘Citizens of the Future’ programme, we are also supporting 600 schools across all 47 counties through the construction and equipping of laboratories and teacher training.”
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko urged women to attend antenatal clinics to receive guidance on nutrition, early detection of complications, and health monitoring.
She said such care reduces risks for mothers and infants while preparing families for childbirth.
Mboko also called for continued cooperation among leaders to focus on development. “This is the time to serve the people. When the time for politics comes, we will engage in politics,” she said.
She further urged the county to complete ongoing projects at Shonda and expand Mwangale Health Centre to meet the needs of the growing population.
The MP commended the county for upgrading Vijiweni Polytechnic with modern training facilities, including a swimming pool for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) maritime courses.
She said the new facilities would allow local youth to access maritime training without having to travel to Bandari College.
By Sitati Reagan
