After more than 14 years of abandonment, Nakuru Trauma Center, situated at the County Referral and Teaching Hospital, is set to come alive again, follows a construction takeover by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in conjunction with the County Government of Nakuru.
The 100 million project was launched in 2011, but one year later, with little to show for it at ground level, the contractor abandoned the site despite being paid over Sh30 million.
The Project which aimed to provide a State-of-the-Art casualty and emergency facility for accident victims, was to be completed by the end of 2013.
However, the promise was not fulfilled and in 2012, the contractor abandoned the site, leaving the project incomplete a year prior.
Speaking, Saturday, during the ground breaking ceremony, Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ms Soipan Tuya, said that the project was not just about construction of a Trauma Center, but a plan to improve the treatment of critically injured road accident victims, along the notorious Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu-Eldoret Highway.
The CS regretted that for nearly 15 years, accident victims in the Northern Corridor had lacked a proper facility to attend to emergencies, which she said, sometimes limited their survival.
“Today we say no more waiting due to abandonment and unfulfilled promises,” Ms Tuya stated.
Governor Susan Kihika, indicated that after taking the matter to the highest office, on June 11 this year, President William Ruto, during a meeting at State House, issued a Presidential Directive, tasking the KDF with the revival of the project and the reconstruction of the Trauma Center.
Ms Kihika explained that once completed under the supervision of KDF, the redesigned Trauma Centre, will have a 57-bed capacity, an expanded Intensive Care Unit with a capacity of 22 beds, male and female trauma wards, a laboratory, and two theatres.
The Governor expressed gratitude that once complete, the facility will provide timely and specialized emergency healthcare not only to Nakuru residents, but to the entire region.
The Governor thanked President Ruto for mandating the KDF to partner with her government in completing the Trauma Centre, and lauded Ms. Soipan for her commitment to the project.
“My government is committed to improving healthcare services and realizing Universal Healthcare in Nakuru County and the region in general,” affirmed Ms Kihika.
Also present were Defence Principal Secretary (PS), Patrick Mariru and Nakuru County Commissioner, Dr Loyford Kibaara.
The history of the Trauma Center started on the morning of January 31, 2009, when an oil tanker overturned at Sachangwan, along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway and burst into flames, claiming more than 130 lives.
Two years later, former President Mwai Kibaki unveiled a plan to improve the treatment of critically injured road accident victims along the notorious highway, and proceeded to commission a Sh90 million Trauma Centre, that was aimed at easing the pain of crash victims.
With initial funding of Sh60 million allocated to the project, the unfinished Trauma Centre complex situated opposite the Hospital Mortuary, stalled a year into its construction and for the past 14 years, the incomplete facility has been fenced-off with iron sheets.
Now, an intervention by President Ruto has offered a ray of hope for the stalled project, after Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and architects from the KDF, completed site assessments of the PGH Trauma Centre, prior to formally taking over completion of the stalled project.
On June 11, 2025, Governor Susan Kihika, led a delegation of Members of Parliament, Members of County Assembly, and grassroots leaders from Nakuru County to State House for a consultative meeting, where President Ruto pledged to deploy the KDF to complete the Trauma Centre, Afraha and Olenguruone stadia.
The KDF team led by Major G.D Roba that held site assessment visits compiled and forwarded a detailed report to President Ruto to inform the next phase of completing the three projects.
Governor Kihika indicated that to facilitate the collaboration, the Devolved Unit had prepared essential documents, including structural plans and Bills of Quantities to guide KDF’s involvement.
The Trauma Center project was set up under the defunct Ministry of Special Programmes, to serve accident victims along a dangerous stretch of road on the northern corridor.
The Centre was to be equipped with high dependency and Intensive Care Units, among other amenities, and was to be completed within 12 months, according to hospital documentation.
The Governor said the proposed Trauma Center is a viable project that will assist patients with trauma, among other emergencies once completed.
“There are cases of burns, accidents and fire injuries reported at the Hospital that would be better handled at the Trauma Centre. It would be prudent to complete its construction, because it would be of great use,” said Ms Kihika.
She said there were many instances where accident victims, could have been saved if they received prompt care from trained medics.
“There are many people who die after being involved in road accidents, while the condition of some worsens for lack of experts to attend to them. This is why it is advisable to complete construction of the Centre to handle accident victims,” she said.
The building, which is a one-story structure, has a completed roof and walls, but lacks doors, windows, and other essential fittings.
Previously, ownership of the project was mired in confusion after administrations of former Governors Mr Kinuthia Mbugua and his successor Mr Lee Kinyanjui, maintained that the Trauma Center was a national government project and not within their purview, citing the lack of official handover from the defunct Transition Authority.
Governor Kihika pointed out that the project was originally funded by the Ministry of Special Programmes and the Ministry of Health, with a portion of funds intended for the project from the Sachangwan/Nakumatt Fire Fundraiser.
The Government, through the Ministry of Special Programmes, allocated Sh63 million, while the Ministry of Health was meant to contribute Sh20 million from the proceeds of the Sachangwan/Nakumatt Fire Fundraiser, which raised a total of Sh70 million.
Over the past 12 years, countless accidents have occurred along the Ngata-Sobea-Salgaa-Sachangwan stretch, underscoring the necessity of this Trauma Centre, to provide accident victims, especially those with severe injuries, a fighting chance.
Ms Kihika expressed strong support for the government’s intervention, highlighting that completing the Stadium, will inspire hope and ignite passion among the community, especially the youth eager to engage in sports and talent development.
KDF is also involved in the construction of Olenguruone Stadium, situated in Kuresoi South Sub-county which started in 2012 after a contractor was awarded Sh 73 million out of the total contract sum of Sh290,643,688 as per contract agreement.
Ms Kihika said they were committed to ensuring that the sporting facility is done, adding that a contractor who will do the work together with Kenya Defence Forces, will be identified soon to ensure that work is done in a few months.
She indicated that the County Government had uninitiated projects to build and upgrade sports facilities in 11 Sub-counties, with a key project targeting the renovation of the run-down Afraha Stadium.
She said the upgrade of the sporting facilities had been designed to increase the residents’ access to modern sporting facilities, required for quality sports talent development and exposure.
She indicated the facilities were being designed to provide an international sports arena for major national and international events, which will attract revenue and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for Nakuru County residents.
The Kenya Defence Forces, will also oversee the completion of Afraha Stadium in Nakuru City, whose Sh650 million renovation has stalled for three years.
The Stadium’s new tartan track, was recently used to host the Tokyo Athletics Championships qualifiers.
The ground breaking ceremony by KDF was scheduled for October 15, but it was postponed following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
by Esther Mwangi & Dennis Rasto
