Strategic investments by the Government and strong public-private partnerships are transforming specialized healthcare services at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), strengthening the country’s efforts to deliver quality, affordable healthcare under the Taifa Care Model.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Friday toured the country’s largest national referral hospital to assess progress on key infrastructure projects and the installation of modern medical equipment aimed at improving patient care and expanding access to specialized treatment.
Speaking during the inspection, Duale said the ongoing investments reflect the Government’s commitment to modernizing national referral hospitals through infrastructure development, innovation and strategic partnerships.
He noted that the initiatives are expected to enhance access to quality specialized healthcare while accelerating the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Taifa Care Model.
“The Government remains committed to strengthening referral health facilities through sustained investment in modern infrastructure and medical technology to ensure Kenyans receive quality and affordable healthcare,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
Among the projects inspected was the refurbished Renal Unit, which has significantly improved dialysis services for patients with kidney disease.
Duale also reviewed the installation of four new ultrasound machines acquired under the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP), which have enhanced the hospital’s diagnostic capacity by enabling clinicians to serve at least 30 patients daily.
At the Mammography Unit, he observed modern imaging equipment that is improving the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, allowing patients to access timely treatment and better health outcomes.
The Cabinet Secretary further toured newly renovated inpatient facilities on the 5D, 6th and 7th floors.
The upgrades, supported through partnerships with The Co-operative Bank of Kenya and the Nakumatt Fire Victims Fund, have increased the hospital’s capacity by approximately 150 beds, helping address the growing demand for specialized healthcare services.
The visit highlighted the increasingly important role of the private sector in supporting Kenya’s healthcare system.
Through the M-PESA Foundation, Safaricom has financed the refurbishment of the GFB Antenatal and Postnatal Ward and the Main Newborn Unit, improving maternal and newborn healthcare services at the hospital.
In the Radiology Department, Duale inspected advanced diagnostic equipment installed under the National Equipment Service Programme, including modern CT scan, mammography and ultrasound machines.
The equipment is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy, shorten waiting times, support timely clinical decision-making and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.
The tour concluded at the hospital’s In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Centre of Excellence, which is now 98 per cent complete.
Once operational, the centre will provide affordable fertility treatment and specialized reproductive healthcare services, reducing the need for Kenyans to seek costly treatment abroad while expanding access to advanced reproductive medicine within the country.
Duale said the facility will mark a major milestone in strengthening specialized reproductive health services and supporting couples seeking fertility care.
The Cabinet Secretary was received by KNH Board Chairperson Dr. Abbas Gullet, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe and members of the hospital’s Board of Directors, who briefed him on the progress of the ongoing projects and the hospital’s efforts to improve service delivery.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
