Inside Kiambu’s Sh1.5 billion plan to revolutionise healthcare

Kiambu government has launched a Sh1.5 billion initiative to improve health infrastructure.

The money will be used to build new hospitals and expand, renovate and equip existing facilities.

This will take place alongside the multimillion Kiambu Afya programme popularly known as Wamatangi Care.

The programme is designed to ensure residents gain access to quality healthcare services in all county-owned hospitals.

About 300,000 people are already enrolled in the Universal Health Care Programme, which covers chronic diseases and covers funeral costs.

The second mass registration drive which is expected to start in two months time, targets 500,000 people.

Kiambu government is currently building eight level 4 hospitals with 200- bed capacity each.

The eight hospitals include six whose construction stalled for more than eight years and two commissioned by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi last year.

The two hospitals will cost between Sh160 million and Sh260 million each.

Sixteen new level 3 hospitals with 10-bed general wards and 16-bed maternity wings will be built at the cost of  Sh50 million each. 

Health executive elias Maina said the projects will be completed this year.

Once completed, the county will double its bed capacity from 1,608 to 3,200 beds.

Some of the hospitals that stalled include Githunguri and Thogoto hospitals in Kikuyu, Rukuma Hospital in Lari, Wangige Hospital in Kabete and Bibirioni and Tigoni hospitals in Limuru.

The contractors resumed work after Wamatangi cleared their pending bills.

Karuri Hospital in Kiambaa and Gachororo Level 3 Hospital in Juja are also being upgraded to level 3 position.

The hospitals will get a 200-bed capacity block each at the cost of Sh420 million.

"The construction of the three hospitals stalled because the previous administration failed to pay contractors, forcing them to abandon the projects. Work has however resumed resumed. We anticipate that construction will end in December to pave way for equipping and operationalisation," Wamatangi said.

"We are also setting up a health management system to connect all 114 facilities for effective monitoring of service delivery. We also expect to improve the turnaround time and ensuring that each facility is adequately supplied with medicine."

New level 3 hospitals under construction are Ndenderu, Kiawaroga in Limuru, Kawaida, Ndumberi, Gitaru, Kahawa Sukari, Kahawa Wendani, Kawaida and Mwihoko.

Gitothua, Athena, Uthiru and Ndarasha have been cleared for groundbreaking.

"We intend to ensure level 3 hospitals in all our 60 wards are upgraded by expanding the infrastructure and upgrading equipment. This will improve access to medical services," Maina said.

The county has built a central drug store in Ruiru that will serve the 114 hospitals.

Head of health technologies and products unit Esther Kamau said the facility will do away with procurement delays.

All level 2 and 3 facilities will be integrated in NHIF system to improve access to medical care.