Kirinyaga County secures new dialysis machines at Kerugoya Hospital, expanding kidney treatment

The installation, done under the National Equipment Support Program (NESP), is expected to ease pressure on the facility, which has been serving patients from within and outside the county. County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, George Karoki, said the new machines are fully digital and designed to improve safety and efficiency.

“Once a dialysis session is complete, the machines automatically alert the medical team, unlike the previous manual systems. We can now serve more patients because of the increased capacity,” he noted. Karoki explained that the renal unit previously relied on two machines that could only handle about 20 sessions per week. “With the new equipment, the facility can now accommodate 30 to 40 patients, conduct 60 sessions weekly, and handle close to 300 sessions every month,” he added. Patients have welcomed the development. Wambua Kioko, 85, who has been undergoing dialysis since 2022, said the expanded services have eased the financial and logistical challenges of seeking care elsewhere.

“I had transferred to another hospital before these machines arrived, but it was costly and very difficult. Now I feel comfortable and well taken care of here in Kerugoya,” he said. The hospital’s renal unit also offers nutritional counselling and education on managing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, the leading causes of kidney failure.

Staff, including senior renal nurse Racheal Nyaga, said training has been conducted on the new machines to ensure smooth service delivery. "At the moment, we have about 30 patients under dialysis. With full county support, we are able to follow up on those with lifestyle conditions to prevent further kidney failure,” she said.