The Nandi County Government plans to install a solar power system at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital’s Mother and Baby Health Complex to reduce electricity costs and ensure reliable power supply when President William Ruto officially opens the facility.
Governor Stephen Sang said the county had partnered with KCB Bank to finance the solarisation of the hospital, with the arrangement expected to ease the financial burden of running the modern health facility.
Speaking ahead of the commissioning of the Level Five hospital complex, Sang said Kapsabet County Referral Hospital currently spends between Sh1.2 million and Sh1.5 million monthly on electricity, a cost he hopes to eliminate after completing payments for the solar installation.
“We have agreed with KCB to install solar power at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. We will pay the same amount we have been spending on electricity for five years, after which the hospital will enjoy free solar energy for the remaining 20 years of the system’s lifespan,” he said.
The governor explained that the county opted for the financing arrangement because its budget could not accommodate the estimated Sh80 million required to install the solar system at once.
He said KCB had agreed to extend its existing solarisation partnership with the National Government, initially targeting schools, to support the county’s health facilities.
Sang said the initiative would help the county reduce operational expenses while ensuring that critical medical equipment in the hospital remained powered.
“We want this hospital to run on solar energy so that we can reduce the cost of operations and use the savings to improve service delivery,” he said.
The governor expressed optimism that the solar installation would be completed by January, adding that the county intended to expand the programme to other health facilities.
He said the move was part of broader efforts to modernise healthcare infrastructure and improve the quality of services available to residents within Nandi and neighbouring counties.
Sang said the Mother and Baby Health Complex had been developed through the county government’s investment in health infrastructure, with support from the National Government in equipping the facility.
He urged residents to utilise the hospital, saying the county had invested in modern equipment, infrastructure and qualified medical personnel to improve access to quality healthcare.
The governor cited his recent experience receiving treatment at the facility as evidence of his confidence in the services offered by local health professionals.
“I believe in the services we provide here. My family and I use this hospital, and I recently underwent a minor procedure here. There is no reason why we should not trust and utilise our own health facilities,” he said.
Sang also highlighted other ongoing health projects across the county, including developments at Mosoriot, Chemelil, Maraba and Kobujoi, which he said were aimed at expanding access to specialised medical services.
He noted that the county was also investing in agricultural value addition, including dairy processing, avocado handling and coffee processing, as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth.
The President’s visit is expected to mark a major milestone in Nandi’s healthcare development, with the Mother and Baby Health Complex intended to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services in the region.
The planned solarisation is expected to support the hospital’s long-term sustainability by reducing dependence on conventional electricity and freeing up resources for other essential health services.
by Geoffrey Satia
