Uhuru commissions set up of 700-bed referral hospital
A new 700-bed capacity referral hospital is under construction at Kabete Army Barracks in Nairobi.
The Kenya National Research and Referral Hospital (KNRRH) is expected to serve as one of the key medical research centres in Kenya.
“When complete, the level six hospital will offer specialized health services to the military, other security formations, and the public as part of government efforts to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pillar of the Big 4 Agenda,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said during the groundbreaking session today.
As part of the plan to achieve Big 4 Agenda’s UHC, the President said the government was setting up new hospitals while also stepping up the capacity of the existing ones.
“We are upgrading our various hospitals – Kenyatta National Hospital, the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, building new hospitals at KU as well as a number of other hospitals that we shall be opening across the country to ensure that our people have access to healthcare which I believe is a foundation of a sound health secure and prosperous nation,” the President said.
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He added that plans are in the pipeline to open a level four hospital for the Kenya Defence Forces in Kahawa barracks, Nairobi, as well as in Isiolo.
“We are proceeding to develop facilities in Eldoret, Garissa, Manda, Lamu, and other areas so that we ensure that those of you who are out there on the frontline are able to access quality healthcare closer to where you serve,” noted Mr Kenyatta.
Defence CS Dr Monica Juma said the new hospital will be a welcome boost in improving Kenya’s healthcare thereby enhancing the nation’s productivity.
Once complete, KNRRH adds to the growing list of Kenya’s referral hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kisumu based Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Others are Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, his Interior counterpart Dr Fred Matiang’i, and Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua also attended the ground breaking ceremony.
