Work begins on Sh45 billion Kabarak University hospital

Kabarak University Deputy vice chancellor in charge of administration and finance, Henry Kiplagat during an interview in his office at the university recently.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Kabarak University will launch the building of a Sh45 billion teaching, research and referral mission hospital.

The 500-bed state-of-the-art facility, which is expected to be operational by 2020 according to the Vice Chancellor Henry Kiplagat, will be located in Kabarak, Nakuru County.

According to Dr Kiplagat, Kabarak will be the first private university in Kenya to develop a teaching, research and referral mission hospital.

“It has taken years of planning under the stewardship of the chancellor and founder of Kabarak University to conceive this project, which will transform the health sector in the country,” said Kiplagat.

The project will also oversee the modernisation of 23 mission hospitals across the country under the Christian Health Association of Kenya (Chak).

“The university has partnered with international organisations to develop the hospital," said the VC.

He added that the university had picked US giant conglomerate GE Healthcare to be the technology provider for the project.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

“GE Healthcare will help the university with infrastructure development, technology transfer, education and capacity building to support a better health system and patient outcomes,” he said.

The project will be financed by US-based Private Equity Sygec International among other stakeholders.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officiate the  launch alongside former President Daniel arap Moi, who is the institution’s chancellor.

Last year, the university launched a school of medicine and health services that teaches family medicine, pharmacy, clinical medicine and nursing.

Prior to the launch of the school of medicine, the institution entered into a partnership with mission hospitals affiliated to Chak.

This enabled it to roll out postgraduate training in family medicine for doctors in collaboration with PCEA Chogoria Hospital, AIC Kijabe and Tenwek Mission Hospital.