Mwai Kibaki Hospital delinked from KNH after gazettement

Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital has been gazetted as a fully-fledged independent parastatal and delinked from its annex--Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)--with its operations slated to start from October, Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina has said.

President William Ruto, on September 18, 2024, announced that the hospital would be gazetted and acquire its own board and independent budget.

Speaking at his constituency office, Mr Wambugu said the health facility is not only expected to boost the growth of the bustling Othaya town, but also serve patients from Central, Eastern and Northern parts of Kenya.

The MP further said the hospital will become an anchor in rolling out the government’s Universal Health Care (UHC) programme.

“Our hospital has been elevated to an independent parastatal and I can confirm that it has been gazetted. This is one of the biggest health care facilities in Kenya and will serve more patients drawn from Northern, Eastern and Central regions,” Mr Wambugu said.

“We thank President Ruto for his wise decision to elevate this hospital. It will immensely transform the lives of many Kenyans. Nyeri County and Othaya in particular, will experience economic growth,” he added.

The lawmaker said Dr Ruto has already assured that the facility will be fully equipped so as to serve enough patients from many parts of the country.

“When I met the President at the State House recently, he told me to encourage investors to set up rental houses and businesses so as to spur economic growth. That is why I am urging my people in Othaya to be patient with the government as it continues entrenching development,” he said.

The facility was previously known as Othaya Level 6 Hospital before it was renamed in 2018 and its operation taken over by the national government, from the county government of Nyeri.

The Sh1 billion medical facility, which took over eight(8) years to complete, was renamed as Mwai Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital as an honor to the late retired president who hailed from Othaya constituency.

While elevating the facility’s status, President Ruto said it will boost provision of UHC.

“Othaya’s Mwai Kibaki Hospital, an annex of Kenyatta National Hospital, will be gazetted as a parastatal with a board and an independent budget,” the Head of State said.

“This elevation will ensure the health facility is fully equipped to enable it to play its rightful role in the provision of Universal Health Coverage that begins next month,” he added.

MP Wambugu urged leaders from Mt Kenya region to cease politicking and instead focus on implementing development to citizens.

“I want to tell leaders from this region to desist from politics because that time will come and go. As of now, we should not be interested in politicking but transforming lives. Our key focus now is service delivery,” the MP said.