MURANG’A, Kenya — Residents have been urged to seek treatment at alternative facilities after Murang’a Level 5 Hospital reached full capacity amid a sharp rise in patient numbers.
In a notice issued on Monday, March 23, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the county’s main referral hospital is overwhelmed, with all 500 beds occupied and outpatient visits ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 patients daily.
“The hospital is attending to 1,500 to 2,000 patients daily, while those admitted are 500, which is equal to the established bed capacity,” Kang’ata said.
The surge has been attributed to increased demand for services, including an influx of patients from neighbouring counties, placing additional pressure on staff and infrastructure despite recent expansion efforts.
To ease congestion, the county government has directed patients to nearby facilities, including Muriranja’s Hospital, Mugoiri Hospital, as well as Mukuyu and Kiangage dispensaries, which have been reinforced with additional medical personnel.
“We advise patients to consider neighbouring facilities… which now have additional doctors,” the governor added.
Authorities have also rolled out emergency measures to manage the crisis, including reorganising staff in critical departments, recalling personnel from leave, opening new wards, and deploying marshals to regulate patient flow.
The county has further strengthened coordination with Level 4 hospitals to ensure continuity of care and reduce pressure on the referral facility.
However, Kang’ata raised concerns over staffing shortages, warning that efforts to recruit more healthcare workers could be constrained by budgetary limits tied to the county wage bill. He urged the county assembly to fast-track policy interventions to address such emergencies.
The development highlights ongoing challenges in Kenya’s devolved health system, where referral hospitals often face overwhelming demand due to limited capacity at lower-level facilities and cross-county patient inflows.
This is not the first time the hospital has faced such pressure. In October 2025, a similar surge forced the county government to recall doctors from leave and expand ward capacity to accommodate rising admissions.
Residents have been called upon to cooperate with healthcare workers and utilise alternative facilities where possible, as authorities work to stabilise service delivery.
