A NEW DAWN FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN: NANDI MARKS MAJOR HEALTHCARE MILESTONE
Nandi County has taken a decisive step towards strengthening maternal and child healthcare following the commissioning of the Mother and Child Health Complex at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital by H.E President Dr. William Ruto. The President also laid the foundation stone for a new Outpatient Block, signalling a major expansion of specialized and accessible healthcare services for residents.
The Mother and Child Health Complex, constructed by the County Government of Nandi, is more than a new building. It is a promise to mothers, newborns, and families that quality care should not be a privilege reserved for those who can travel far or pay heavily for private services. The facility is expected to expand access to specialized services, including maternity theatres, intensive care, high-dependency care, and renal services.
For generations, many families in Nandi have had to endure long journeys and costly referrals in search of advanced maternal and paediatric care. The new complex brings critical services closer to home, reducing delays that can mean the difference between life and death during emergencies such as complicated deliveries, premature births, and childhood illnesses.
The facility is a 300-bed complex and is expected to raise Kapsabet County Referral Hospital’s overall capacity from 200 to 500 beds. It includes a 10-bed adult ICU, an 18-bed preterm neonatal ICU, maternity theatres, and advanced diagnostic equipment.
This investment responds directly to one of the most important measures of a county’s development: how safely a mother can deliver, and how well a child can survive and thrive after birth. When mothers receive timely antenatal care, skilled delivery services, emergency obstetric care, and postnatal support, entire families and communities become healthier and more productive.
The commissioning of the Mother and Child Health Complex stands as a defining milestone in Governor Stephen Sang’s legacy since he assumed office in 2017. From the beginning, his administration identified healthcare as a central pillar of its development agenda, promising to transform a sector that was then struggling with frequent health-worker strikes, drug shortages, weak infrastructure, and limited specialised services.
Over the years, the county has expanded health facilities from 120 to 155, increased healthcare financing, recruited and supported health workers, improved drug supply systems, and invested in maternity units, laboratories, ambulances, theatres, and diagnostic services. The results are visible in improved maternal outcomes: skilled deliveries rose from 36.9 per cent in 2017 to 65 per cent, placing Nandi among Kenya’s top four safest counties for childbirth.
Governor Sang’s vision has been to ensure that residents can access quality medical services within a five-kilometre radius, rather than travelling long distances to Eldoret, Kisumu, or Nairobi. The Mother and Child Health Complex is therefore the culmination of that promise: a modern, specialized facility that brings advanced maternal and newborn care to the people of Nandi. It is not merely a project being opened; it is a legacy being handed to future generations.
President Ruto’s support in equipping the facility strengthens its readiness to deliver quality services. The national government equipped the hospital through the National Equipment Service Programme at a cost of KSh392 million, providing modern medical equipment and expanding the hospital’s capacity for specialised treatment.
Governor Sang welcomed the President’s support and thanked the national government for laying the foundation stone for the new Outpatient Block. The block is a key addition to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, designed to expand the facility’s ability to serve a growing population and improve access to essential medical services.
The new hospital complex whose foundation stone was laid is valued at KSh500 million and is scheduled for completion in March 2027. Once complete, it will add 120 beds, raising the hospital’s total capacity to 670 beds and further strengthening intensive care, high-dependency care, maternity theatres, and renal services.
The milestone demonstrates the power of collaboration between the national government, the County Government of Nandi, and the County Assembly. Governor Sang extended heartfelt appreciation to his administration and the County Assembly for their continued support, collaboration, and commitment to strengthening the county’s healthcare system.
Healthcare development cannot succeed through infrastructure alone. It requires well-equipped facilities, adequate staffing, reliable supply of medicines, efficient management, and community trust. The commissioning of the Mother and Child Health Complex therefore creates an important responsibility: to ensure that the facility is fully operational, properly maintained, and accessible to every resident who needs it.
President Ruto also emphasized the need for health facility boards to prioritize drugs over infrastructure, noting that medicines must reach dispensaries and health centres where most residents seek first-line care. This message is particularly important as Nandi expands its referral capacity: a modern hospital must be supported by a strong network of primary healthcare facilities.
The new complex should inspire confidence among expectant mothers, parents, and health workers across Nandi. It affirms that the county is investing in the most vulnerable and most valuable members of society: mothers and children.
It also strengthens Nandi’s broader journey towards Universal Health Coverage. With improved infrastructure, specialized services, and continued enrollment under the Social Health Authority, residents can increasingly access comprehensive healthcare closer to home rather than travelling to Eldoret, Kisumu, or Nairobi.
The commissioning of the Mother and Child Health Complex and the laying of the foundation stone for the Outpatient Block are not merely ceremonial events. They represent a shared vision of a healthier Nandi, where every mother receives safe and dignified care, every child has a stronger start in life, and quality healthcare becomes a practical reality for all.
Together, Nandi is building more than hospitals. It is building hope, dignity, and a healthier future for generations to come.