The Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital in Othaya, Nyeri, is geared towards becoming a fully operational Level VI facility, the hospital’s board chairman, Retired General Robert Kibochi, has confirmed.
Speaking after hosting the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health for an inspection tour, General Kibochi stated that the facility is currently in its transition phase after it was gazetted as a parastatal in September last year and that the board is working to operationalize its first five-year’ strategic plan.
“This facility now has a bigger responsibility of not only offering specialised treatment but also supporting training in the field of medicine. Currently we have a team of doctors and we are hoping that once we bring in more equipment, we will get more specialized doctors and we will be able to do more than our current capacity,” said General Kibochi.
The 350-bed capacity hospital was gazetted as an autonomous parastatal with its own board of management and independent budget on September 20, 2024.
Upon gazettement, the Head of State, Dr. William Ruto, said that the elevation of the hospital would boost its capacity to serve as a key health facility in Nyeri County and surrounding counties. He also noted that it will create new opportunities for medical professionals.
“The hospital will now be managed by a board ensuring more autonomy and efficient service delivery,” said Dr Ruto.
The facility offers specialized treatment in cardiology, neurology, urology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oncology, trauma and orthopedic surgery. The hospital is mandated to receive patients on a referral basis for specialised treatment but also serves as the first point of treatment during emergencies.
The Mwai Kibaki Referral Hospital is also expected to facilitate training for health and allied professions, conduct research which will inform planning by the health ministry, support medical innovation and inform policy decisions in the healthcare sector.
Besides Nyeri, the facility serves residents of Embu, Isiolo, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Nyandarua, Samburu and Tharaka-Nithi counties. Since its launch in 2019, it has also played a part in decongesting the Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s oldest referral hospital.
The board chair noted that the facility has already improved healthcare provision in the Mount Kenya region and that its elevation to an autonomous government agency will contribute to the realization of the government’s goal of attaining Universal Health Coverage.
“Once equipped we will do even better and contribute to the universal healthcare that the government is pursuing. We commit to working with partners and the National Assembly to make this hospital the very best Level VI that we can have here in the country. We have the capacity to do it,” he stated.
The visit follows a directive by President Dr Ruto’s directive on April 6 of this year, while on a development tour in Othaya, to have the facility’s progress regularly monitored.
The team led by the vice-chairperson of the health committee, Patrick Munene (Chuka/Igambang’ombe), comprised of Pauline Lenguris (Samburu), Mary Maingi (Mwea), Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye East) and Othaya Member of Parliament Wambugu Wainaina.
The vice-chairperson of the committee underscored the significance of the hospital in improving and easing access to specialized healthcare services for residents in the region and beyond.
Munene also acknowledged the human resources and equipment shortage affecting the six-year-old facility and pledged the government’s support in addressing the issues hindering its full operationalization.
“We have identified some gaps in equipment, human resource and physical infrastructure that need to be improved within the hospital. We have agreed with the Board of Management that they will do a comprehensive budget so that as the National Assembly goes to the budgeting process as a committee, we will push to get money for this hospital to work well,” stated the legislator.
By Wangari Mwangi
