President Ruto officially opens the modern Kerugoya County Referral Hospital
Sponsored by County Government of Kirinyaga
Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru explains a point to President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua during the official Opening of Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.
President William Ruto on Tuesday (June 13) opened the largest medical complex in Kirinyaga County, elevating Kerugoya County Referral Hospital from a level-4 to a level-5 facility.
The state-of-the-art medical complex takes the county’s medical care a notch higher by offering a full spectrum of specialised services for which residents would earlier be referred to facilities outside the county.
The President, who was accompanied by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, congratulated Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru for implementing a project he termed as “iconic” and one which had demonstrated that healthcare was better delivered by county governments.
“The healthcare function will and has been better managed by the county governments, and if anyone needs a testimony and confirmation of the same, they should see the hospital that has been built by the County Government of Kirinyaga,” the president said.
He said that even though the project had faced much opposition at the initial stages, Waiguru’s determination had made it possible to get it accomplished. “A good thing cannot be seen at once, but you need a long-term vision to accomplish it,” he noted.
At the same time, President Ruto assured Kenyans that the national government had no interest in taking over the health care function from the counties. He said that it would instead support county governments to deliver quality and affordable healthcare to the people. “We have a comprehensive plan on how better to address issues surrounding the welfare of medics, and we want to have a seamless intergovernmental working relationship that will enable us implement various reforms in the health sector,” he stated.
Some of the areas in which the president said the two levels of government would collaborate on include equipping of hospitals, formulation of a policy and financing framework involving the Facility Improvement Fund, and capacity building and remuneration of community health promoters. He also said they will form an advisory council to deal with matters of counties’ medical workers.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Waiguru said the hospital project, which had been fully funded by the County Government, was part of fulfilling her administration’s blueprint – The Mountain Cities 2032, which designates Kirinyaga Central constituency as the “Wellness City”. She added that it was the culmination of her government’s effort to improve accessibility and affordability to quality healthcare services to residents of Kirinyaga County.
A view of the multi-million Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.
Some of the services offered at the 341-bed capacity hospital include specialist consultancies in paediatrics, ENT, oncology, dermatology, orthopaedics, medical outpatient clinic, surgical outpatient, neuro-paediatric clinic, and obstetrics and gynaecology. The hospital also has a 12-bed ICU and a 12-bed HDU. In addition, all its beds are fitted with oxygen facilities.
After touring the hospital, the president promised to support Governor Waiguru by deploying five critical care nurses to work at the new ICU and also help in additional equipment.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said that Governor Waiguru had lived to her promise of transforming Kirinyaga. “She does many things, but the hospital will be a lasting legacy in her leadership in Kirinyaga County,” said the DP.
Governor Waiguru said the accomplishment of the project was a demonstration that devolution was working, and if adequately supported, counties will be able to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to the citizens.
“As the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, I can assure you that the devolution of healthcare services has had a significant impact. For the last 10 years, county governments have invested heavily in healthcare service delivery, human resource development, equipping of health facilities as well as health infrastructure development. Consequently, over 90 percent of the Kenyan population currently live within 5km or one-hour travel time to a health facility,” she said.
Waiguru thanked the national government for support in terms of technical advice, noting that the intergovernmental approach had contributed to the overall delivery of high-quality healthcare facility. She also thanked the project implementation team that included the county departments of public works, health, and finance.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Nakumicha Wafula, congratulated Governor Waiguru for the achievement, pointing out that the hospital had been assessed and had met all the requirements for elevation to a level-5 facility. A Level Fiver Certificate was issued to Governor Waiguru.
Other leaders present at the function hailed the governor for successfully implementing a project of such a magnitude. “I have not seen a leader who works as hard as Waiguru. She is visionary, resilient, determined, and focused,” said Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
His sentiments were echoed by Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who is also the Chair of the Health Committee at the Council of Governors (CoG). “We came to Kirinyaga today to witness that devolution works,” he said, adding that Waiguru’s leadership capability was what made governors elect her to lead the CoG.
Ndia and Kirinyaga Central Members of Parliament George Kariuki and Gachoki Gitari respectively, congratulated the governor for the hospital project, saying that county residents will now stop being medical tourists to other counties.
The function was also attended by Members of the County Assembly and hundreds of Kirinyaga residents.
