Residents of Lelan Ward in Pokot South Sub-County are set to benefit from improved access to specialised maternal and newborn healthcare following the groundbreaking of a Sh500 million Mother and Baby Hospital in Kabichbich.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the 250-bed Amson’s Group Mother and Baby Hospital, where he officially handed over the project site to the contractor to pave the way for commencement of construction.
The Level 4 facility is expected to transform healthcare delivery in Pokot South and neighbouring areas by bringing specialised maternal and newborn services closer to communities that have for years travelled long distances to access advanced medical care.
The project fulfils President William Ruto’s commitment to establish a Level 4 hospital in Kabichbich and is being implemented through a partnership involving Amson’s Group and the National Government, with the county government supporting healthcare delivery in the region.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Kachapin said the investment would address longstanding challenges in accessing specialised healthcare, particularly for expectant mothers and newborns.
“Access to quality maternal and newborn healthcare should never depend on a family’s distance from a modern hospital. This facility will bring essential specialised services closer to our people and help safeguard the lives of mothers and babies,” said Kachapin.
He noted that the existing Kabichbich Sub-County Hospital handles an average of more than 50 deliveries monthly, serving approximately 15,000 people, including residents from neighbouring Elgeyo-Marakwet and Trans Nzoia counties.
With Pokot South’s population estimated at 102,000 and approximately 4,000 expected deliveries annually, the Governor said expanding healthcare infrastructure and capacity was necessary to respond to the growing demand for maternal services.
Once completed, the hospital will provide comprehensive maternity and delivery services, Caesarean section procedures, postnatal care, diagnostic services, Kangaroo Mother Care and specialised intensive care units for mothers and newborns.
These will include a Maternal Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which are expected to strengthen the management of complicated pregnancies, premature births and newborn emergencies.
Kachapin said the investment would also help reduce referrals to distant hospitals, which often expose patients and their families to additional transport expenses and delays in accessing specialised treatment.
To strengthen services at the existing Kabichbich Sub-County Hospital, the Governor also handed over an ultrasound machine to improve diagnostic capacity and support early detection of pregnancy-related complications.
He further disclosed that his administration had increased the number of nurses at the facility from 12 in 2022 to 22, bringing the total workforce to 45 healthcare personnel.
The County Executive Committee Member for Health, Claire Parklea, said the new facility would strengthen the county’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes by expanding access to essential services and specialised medical attention.
She noted that the availability of dedicated maternal and neonatal care units would improve the management of high-risk pregnancies and complications during childbirth, while reducing the need for patients to seek specialised treatment outside the region.
“The hospital will significantly strengthen our capacity to provide comprehensive maternal and newborn healthcare. Our priority is to ensure that mothers and babies receive timely, quality and specialised medical attention without having to travel long distances,” said Parklea.
She added that the investment would complement existing healthcare services and support efforts to improve access to quality medical care across the county.
Meanwhile, project engineer Maurice Sabiti of Birdi Civil Engineers Limited, the main contractor undertaking the works, said construction was expected to take six months.
Sabiti assured residents that the contractor was committed to completing the project within the stipulated period, noting that preparations would focus on ensuring the facility meets the required construction standards.
He also pledged to involve local residents in the project by providing opportunities for unskilled labour, saying the community would directly benefit from the construction activities.
“We are committed to completing this project within the agreed six-month period. We will also ensure that residents from the surrounding community are given opportunities to participate in the construction, particularly in areas that do not require specialised skills,” said Sabiti.
He added that materials and other resources available at the project site would be utilized where suitable, to ensure the surrounding community also benefits from the investment.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by County Chief Officer for Health Irene Lopakale, Lelan Ward MCA James Kapeli and other county government officials, community leaders and residents.
Amson’s Group is also undertaking similar healthcare investments in Uasin Gishu, Bomet, Garissa, Embu, Kwale, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi, as part of its expansion of healthcare infrastructure across the country.
The Kabichbich hospital is expected to serve residents of West Pokot and neighbouring counties, improving access to specialised maternity services and reducing the burden on existing health facilities.
For residents of Pokot South, the project represents an opportunity to access essential maternal and newborn health care closer to home, with its successful completion expected to strengthen the region’s capacity to respond to pregnancy-related emergencies and other specialised medical needs.
By Parklea Ivor
