Mwai Kibaki Referral Hospital to remain under stewardship of KNH
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha Wafula addressing the media after meeting Nyeri leaders. Photo/PAUL MWANGI WANJIRU
By William Muchiri
Worth Noting:
- After the two meetings, the CS disclosed that a special ministerial committee will be set up to oversee the transition of the Mwai Kibaki Hospital from the stewardship of the Kenyatta National Hospital to an independent Level VI facility.
- She said that the committee will be responsible for among things, advising the ministry on the recruitment of the healthcare personnel who will work in the 300 bed-capacity facility.
- She added that the team will also inform the process to be followed during the constitution of the hospital’s board as well as the equipment required to provide specialized care at the facility.
Mwai Kibaki Level VI hospital will remain under stewardship of Kenyatta National Hospital.
The contract bonding the two facilities has expired and the government has decided that the Othaya constituency based facility will for sometime remain under the management of the largest public health facility in the country.
Yesterday, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha Wafula and Principal Secretary in charge of Health Standards and Professional Management Dr Josphine Mburu Yesterday separately met the Nyeri County leadership and the facility management over the issue.
The duo met the leadership at Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s office in Nyeri town before proceeding to the hospital in Othaya town.
After the two meetings, the CS disclosed that a special ministerial committee will be set up to oversee the transition of the Mwai Kibaki Hospital from the stewardship of the Kenyatta National Hospital to an independent Level VI facility.
She said that the committee will be responsible for among things, advising the ministry on the recruitment of the healthcare personnel who will work in the 300 bed-capacity facility.
She added that the team will also inform the process to be followed during the constitution of the hospital’s board as well as the equipment required to provide specialized care at the facility.
“We, together with the county leadership have agreed to put together a team that is going to give us the roadmap and the finer details of what we need to do to ensure that the hospital is able to operate as a Level VI hospital. In the next few years, the facility should be able to stand on its own as a referral hospital,” said the CS.
After it construction finished, it was first named Othaya Level Six Hospital before it was renamed to Kenyatta National Hospital, Othaya Annex.
However, following the death of Kenya’s third president in April 2022, the facility was renamed Mwai Kibaki Hospital in his honour.
The hospital has also played a part in decongesting the Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s oldest referral hospital.
Mwai Kibaki hospital currently offers specialized treatment namely cardiology, neurology, urology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oncology, trauma and orthopedic surgery among others for mountain region residents.
Despite being in operation for two years, the hospital is still relying on visiting specialists from KNH to offer some of the specialized services similar to those offered at KNH in Nairobi.
Yesterday, while speaking in Othaya, area Member of Parliament Wambugu Wainaina and County Women Representative Rahab Mukami called for a strategy that will see a third of job and other opportunities reserved for the locals.
The CS also said that the ministry would initiate talks with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to ensure that NHIF cardholders access healthcare services from the facility.
This follows complaints from residents and members of county assembly that the hospital which was expected to make access to premium medical care at close proximity was now charging high rates for medical services.
“We are also working with NHIF to cover those who have cards and when you go to the facility you will be taken care of. Residents should ensure they have the card which will make life easy for you,” she said.
Other leaders present were Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Deputy Governor Warui Kinaniri, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina, KNH Chief Executive Officer, Dr Evanson Kamuri, Nyeri Health CEC Robert Thuo and several other leaders.
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