Governor Sakaja reports growth in ICU capacity in Nairobi County hospitals

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Sakaja said the increased ICU capacity has eased pressure on Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which had long been the only public facility in the city offering intensive care services.

“Before I became Governor, Nairobi had zero ICU capacity in public hospitals. Today, we have 18 ICU beds at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, 10 at Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital, and 8 at Mbagathi Hospital, along with new neonatal ICU units. Ten more ICU beds are nearing completion at Mutuini Hospital, which is now 90 percent done,” Sakaja told the committee.

He said the expansion has improved the county’s ability to handle emergencies and strengthened service delivery in public health facilities.

The Governor credited part of the progress to a review of the county’s health sector led by Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, which recommended restructuring management systems in Nairobi’s Level 5 hospitals.

“We changed the management structure of our major hospitals after implementing the committee’s recommendations. It’s a significant step forward, though with a population of seven million, much more still needs to be done,” he said.

Sakaja also noted the revival of several stalled projects, including the new wing at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital that will add 120 more beds by the end of the financial year, and the near-completion of the 400-bed Mutuini Hospital.

He said the opening of Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital and the completion of Mutuini Hospital are expected to reduce congestion in the city’s main health facilities and expand access to healthcare.

The Governor further pointed to the role of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in extending healthcare services to residents across the county’s 17 sub-counties.