The Coast Development Authority (CDA) has officially handed over a state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU) block at the Malindi Sub-County Referral Hospital, marking a major boost to emergency and critical care services in the lower Coast region.
The new facility is expected to significantly expand access to lifesaving care for residents of Kilifi County and neighbouring Lamu and Tana River, easing the pressure on long-distance referrals and strengthening the region’s health system.
Constructed at a cost of Sh50 million, the project was delivered in two phases: the ground floor now hosts the ICU, while the first floor accommodates the HDU and a mini-theatre. The block has an eight-bed capacity, including an isolation room, and will be jointly equipped by CDA and the Kilifi County Government.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, hailed the project as a model of effective cooperation between national and county governments.
“This project is a true reflection of collaboration, coordination, and consultation between the national and county governments. I commend the Kilifi County leadership for their commitment to improving healthcare delivery,” said CS Moe.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s support in ensuring the facility is fully equipped through a cost-sharing arrangement involving CDA and the county government.
“The infrastructure is perfect, and we will immediately move to equip it. This project is a great gift to the people of Kilifi and neighbouring counties,” she said.
Dr Mwanasiti Bendera, the Acting Managing Director of CDA, expressed her satisfaction with the completion of the project under the Malindi Integrated Social Health Development Programme (MSHDIP) Phase 2.
“This programme has been implemented in close collaboration with the Kilifi County Government, particularly the Department of Health, to ensure citizens benefit from improved healthcare services.”
Dr Bendera noted that the Malindi Sub-County Referral Hospital serves a wide catchment area extending beyond Kilifi County to neighbouring Tana River, Lamu, and parts of Garissa, making the facility a vital regional health hub.
“This ICU is essential not only for Kilifi but for the entire Coast region. It will reduce the burden of transferring critical patients to distant facilities like Kilifi or Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa,” she added.
On her part, Kilifi Deputy Governor Florence Mbetsa Chibule lauded the Coast CDA for successfully implementing the ultra-modern ICU and HDU project at Malindi Sub-County Referral Hospital.
She noted that the completion of the facility marks a major milestone in improving healthcare delivery within Kilifi County and the wider Coastal region.
“The County was overwhelmed because we previously had only one hospital with eight-bed capacity offering ICU services,” Chibule said.
“Many patients were forced to travel to neighbouring Mombasa County in search of critical care. This new facility is, therefore, a great relief to our people and a significant boost to our health sector,” she added.
by Sadik Hassan
