By Suleiman Mbatiah
The County Government of Nakuru has stepped up investment in the healthcare sector, aiming to ensure every resident across the county can access dignified, reliable and affordable medical services through improved facilities, staffing and essential equipment.
Speaking during her third State of the County Address at the County Assembly of Nakuru, Governor Susan Kihika said her administration has made health the backbone of its development agenda in line with her 2022 manifesto and development plans.
She said the continued investment shows a deliberate effort to rebuild public confidence in local health services by improving facilities, strengthening staff capacity and ensuring residents receive dependable care in public hospitals.
“Health remains the cornerstone of my administration’s development agenda. Since taking office, we have consistently allocated close to 40 per cent of the county’s annual budget to the health sector,” she said.
Kihika reported that the county has strengthened service delivery, staffing, data systems, supply chains, and governance structures across the entire health system.
She said the county’s 16 Primary Care Networks are now fully operational and have grown into important links between households and health facilities.
“Our 16 gazetted Primary Care Networks are now fully operational and have become essential links between households and healthcare facilities,” she told the Assembly, adding that the networks have helped expand preventive care and community health outreach.
The Governor praised Community Health Promoters, saying their work in early detection, referral, and disease surveillance has reduced preventable illnesses across many wards. She added that hygiene campaigns and routine immunization drives have continued to reinforce these gains.
On medical supplies, the Governor said the county has stabilized the availability of essential medicines by improving forecasting, accountability, and staff capacity through the Health Products and Technologies Unit.
Kihika also highlighted progress in expanding health infrastructure, including the construction of two Level 4 hospitals in Kuresoi North and Rongai, and the completion of stalled sub-county hospitals in Maai Mahiu, Molo, Njoro, and Subukia. New maternity units in Gilgil and Elburgon have also been completed.
Several long-delayed or abandoned facilities have been revived, among them the Trauma Centre at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, which had been idle since 2012.
With support from the National Government, the county is upgrading diagnostic and treatment capacity through new equipment and specialized units, including a Computed Tomography (CT scan), a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a reopened High Dependency Unit at NCRTH, a theatre at Bondeni Sub-County Hospital, and a Kangaroo Mother Care Centre in Molo.
The governor said the administration is pushing for more residents to enroll with the Social Health Authority and is rolling out digital health records to improve efficiency and transparency.
She added that the county has ring-fenced the human resource budget, allowing room for new recruitment, promotions, redesignations, and the conversion of contract staff to permanent terms. She also announced that a lactation centre has been set up at NCRTH as part of efforts to improve workplace conditions for health workers.
“Although staffing gaps remain, we are committed to addressing them. We are also enhancing work environments, including establishing a lactation centre at NCRTH, the first of several planned,” she assured.