KIAMBU, Kenya — Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has added 1,600 hospital beds across the county after reviving and completing stalled health infrastructure projects that had remained dormant for years due to unpaid contractor bills.
The expansion, achieved over the last three years, includes the construction of six new Level Four hospitals and 26 Level Three facilities, significantly increasing Kiambu’s healthcare capacity amid rising patient inflows from neighbouring counties.
County officials say the upgrades have raised Kiambu’s total bed capacity from 1,608 to at least 3,208 beds, easing congestion in public hospitals that routinely serve patients from Nairobi, Machakos, Murang’a, and Nakuru.
Governor Wamatangi said his administration prioritised reviving abandoned projects shortly after taking office in August 2022, settling long-standing payment disputes that had forced contractors off-site.
“The intention is to have a capacity that can handle the demand of patients,” Wamatangi said at the time. “We are also building 13 new dispensaries with maternity wings, mini laboratories and theatres to ensure all our 60 wards have access to quality healthcare within reasonable distance.”
Revival of ‘white elephant’ projects
Among the revived projects are Level Four hospitals in Bibirioni, Lari, Thogoto (Kikuyu), and Githunguri, as well as expanded facilities in Tigoni and Wangige.
The Bibirioni Hospital project, launched in 2018 at an estimated cost of Sh300 million, stalled after the contractor abandoned the site over unpaid bills. The 150-bed multi-storey facility sits on five acres and is designed to serve more than 100,000 residents. Construction resumed.
“We are happy and hopeful that after five years of delay, the facility will finally be operational,” said area MCA Christopher Ireri, at that time. “The governor prioritised projects neglected by previous administrations.”
At Tigoni Hospital, a Sh160 million expansion launched in 2015 to add 150 beds stalled due to payment disputes. Work has since resumed following renegotiation with the contractor.
In Kikuyu, the Thogoto Hospital project, launched over seven years ago and intended to provide 150 beds, had deteriorated into an abandoned site plagued by vandalism. The county has retendered the project, with construction expected to begin before June 30, after the County Assembly approved a supplementary budget allocating an additional Sh1.2 billion for development.
Equipment upgrades and specialised care
Beyond infrastructure, the county has equipped existing hospitals with modern X-ray, ultrasound, dialysis, and endoscopy machines, aligning with the World Health Organisation’s emphasis on Universal Health Coverage.
Githunguri Hospital, an Sh800 million project commissioned in 2018, is among the flagship facilities nearing completion. Once operational, it will house casualty and emergency units, maternity services, orthopaedic and mental health wards, a cancer unit, and an intensive care unit.
Wamatangi said the county is working with the Ministry of Health to equip the facility with specialised medical equipment.
In Ruiru, construction also resumed on the long-stalled Central Medical Store after the county renegotiated terms with the contractor. The facility will house pharmaceuticals and medical supplies under a digital monitoring system to ensure timely replenishment across county hospitals.
Health Services CECM Dr Elias Maina said, at the time, contractors had returned to the site after outstanding dues were settled.
“We are looking forward to having the facility operational within a few months,” he said.
