Sh29 billion health push as government plans 13 new level 5 referral hospitals

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.

Each of the proposed hospitals will have a capacity of 300 beds, with at least 16 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 10 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds. They will also have modern diagnostic and treatment equipment to enable counties to manage more complex cases locally.

Keep Reading

The expansion is significant for patients requiring specialized services, as limited capacity at county level has historically meant that complicated cases are referred to higher-level facilities. The new hospitals are expected to provide additional capacity for critical care, diagnostics and specialized treatment within the counties.

The Government says the counties were not selected solely on geographical considerations but through an assessment of health needs and the capacity of existing infrastructure.

“The counties were prioritized based on population, disease burden, existing health infrastructure and available financing,” officials said.

The criteria are intended to direct public investment towards areas where the need for specialised healthcare is greatest while improving the distribution of health services across the country.

The new Level 5 hospitals will also form part of a wider expansion of Kenya’s referral infrastructure. They will complement the ongoing first phase of the 2,000-bed Kiplombe multi-specialty hospital and plans for a Level 6 facility in Mombasa.

The Government expects the combined investments to strengthen the national referral network by creating more capacity for specialized treatment, critical care and diagnostics.

For counties, the projects could also change the way complex cases are managed by reducing dependence on national referral centers. Patients suffering from conditions requiring specialized investigations or treatment could increasingly receive care closer to home.

However, the construction of the facilities will only be the first step. Their long-term impact will depend on whether the Government and counties can ensure that the hospitals are adequately staffed, equipped and maintained once they become operational.

The national government has acknowledged the need for close coordination between it and county governments, particularly because health is a devolved function.

Key areas requiring coordination include provision of land, statutory approvals, utilities, recruitment and deployment of healthcare workers and ensuring that the facilities are ready to provide services once construction is completed.

The infrastructure programme is also being designed with sustainability in mind. Officials said the new hospitals will incorporate green engineering, increased use of solar energy and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The emphasis on energy efficiency is expected to help lower operational costs over the long term while improving the resilience of health facilities to climate-related disruptions.

This is particularly important as hospitals are among the most energy-intensive public facilities, requiring reliable electricity for theatres, intensive care units, laboratories, imaging equipment, refrigeration and other essential services.

The programme is now moving towards implementation, with the Government and counties expected to agree on timelines, coordination mechanisms, accountability measures and regular progress reporting.

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga was among senior officials attending the strategic meeting on the programme. Also present were Mombasa Governor and Council of Governors Health Committee chairman Abdullswamad Nassir, Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Turkana Governor Jeremiah Ekamaas, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu and Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed.

The meeting also brought together health officials and representatives from participating counties as the national government moves to translate the infrastructure plans into implementation.

The expansion comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to strengthen county health systems and make specialized services more accessible under the broader UHC agenda.

For patients, the ultimate test of the Sh29 billion investment will be whether the new hospitals deliver more than additional buildings.

The national government will need to ensure that the facilities have adequate specialists, nurses and other health workers, reliable medical supplies, functioning equipment and sustainable financing to operate at the intended Level 5 standard.

Officials say the broader objective is to build a stronger, more accessible and equitable healthcare system.