Nakuru Eyes Medical Tourism Hub with Naivasha Hospital Project

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Nakuru County plans to position itself as a regional medical tourism hub after partnering with Prime Ventures International to build a multi-specialty hospital in Naivasha.

Governor Susan Kihika said the proposed Naivasha Medical City Hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility with more than ten specialised medical units.

The hospital is designed as a one-stop centre to attract patients from across the region seeking advanced treatment.

On Tuesday, Kihika met investors led by engineer Nancy Chigai and Mr Erroll King to discuss implementation of the project, which was pitched as a destination medical facility.

The governor said the investment aligns with her manifesto pledge to position Nakuru as a medical tourism centre rather than a conventional healthcare provider.

“This project supports our goal of improving access to quality and affordable healthcare while creating jobs,” she said.

The county government has pledged support to the investors, including help in securing land, licences and professional approvals.

Prime Ventures International plans to break ground in June, with the first phase expected to be completed within three years.

The project is expected to ease pressure on Nakuru Level Five Hospital, the region’s main public referral facility, which faces overcrowding and limited specialised services.

The Naivasha facility will offer advanced care not widely available in public hospitals, reducing the need for patients to travel to Nairobi or Eldoret.

Naivasha’s location along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway is expected to make the hospital accessible to patients from neighbouring counties and the wider region.

The hospital will complement Mai Mahiu Level Four and Naivasha Sub-county hospitals, supporting the Special Economic Zone, the SGR corridor, and growing industrial and infrastructure developments in Mai Mahiu.

Kihika said the project will create jobs and spur local economic growth through medical tourism.

Kenya is positioning itself as a medical tourism destination in East Africa, attracting an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 foreign patients each year, mainly from neighbouring countries.

“We remain open to partnerships that improve healthcare quality and support the county’s development,” the governor said.