President William Ruto launches the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre (NADC) at the SHA headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi. [David Gichuru, Standard]
The government is set to spend Sh29 billion to expand Kenya’s specialised healthcare network by constructing 13 new Level Five referral hospitals to boost access to critical medical services and ease pressure on existing referral facilities.
The 300-bed hospitals, being established following President William Ruto’s directive, will target counties facing gaps in specialised healthcare and are expected to increase the capacity of county health systems to manage complex medical conditions without routinely referring patients to Nairobi and other major urban centers.
The facilities are planned for counties including Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Embu, Migori, Nyamira, Turkana, Baringo, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok and Laikipia. The national government says the programme is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s health infrastructure and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Health officials say the investment is expected to address longstanding disparities in access to specialized care, particularly in counties where patients often have to travel long distances to access critical treatment.
“The investment will strengthen our health infrastructure and bring comprehensive and specialized healthcare closer to communities,” officials said.