Mutuini Hospital Rises to Level 5.[Courtesy]
A boost to Nairobi’s healthcare infrastructure is on the horizon as the expansion of Mutuini Hospital into a modern, 350-bed facility nears completion. The project, undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), is currently 88 percent complete and is expected to be fully operational before the end of the year.
The upgraded hospital, which will operate as a Level 5 facility, is a major milestone in Nairobi County’s efforts to enhance medical access and service delivery. Once open, it will have the capacity to treat over 1,000 patients daily, a move projected to significantly ease congestion at major referral hospitals like Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, and Kikuyu Hospital.
Chief Executive Officer Martin Wafula Wekesa hailed the new facility as a “game changer” during a recent media tour of the site.
“This is a modern health facility that befits the level of a national hospital. We are expecting it to be a busy and vital center of healthcare once it becomes operational,” said Wekesa.
Construction of the new wing is scheduled to conclude in approximately three weeks, with the equipping of the facility set to begin immediately after.
The new hospital is designed to offer comprehensive medical care, featuring a wide range of modern departments and amenities. These include a Chemotherapy Centre for cancer screening and treatment, a 12-bed Emergency and Accident Centre, and an ultra-modern theatre. Diagnostic services will be enhanced with CT scan and X-ray centres. For mothers, the hospital will feature a 36-bed maternity wing complete with a newborn unit and a milk bank centre.
The facility, strategically located near the Southern Bypass, will be the only active major health centre serving the larger Dagoretti and Karen areas.
In recognition of its expanded role and upgraded status, the hospital will be renamed Mama Rachel Ruto Hospital in honour of Kenya’s First Lady. A team from the First Lady’s office, along with Permanent Secretary for Defence Dr. Patrick Mairuri and Governor Johnson Sakaja, have been actively involved in monitoring the project’s progress. Upon completion, the KDF will officially hand over the facility to the Nairobi County Government.
Beyond medical services, the opening is set to be a significant economic boost for the region, projected to create over 600 jobs for health workers and an additional 400 indirect jobs.
The completion of the facility is poised to transform healthcare provision in Nairobi, bringing quality, specialized medical services closer to residents.
