Plans to accelerate the ongoing equiping of the expanded Mutuini Hospital in Dagoreti South with State-of-the Art Equipment have hit top gear with Chief Executive Officer Dr.Martin Wekesa Wafula expecting the facility to start operating in the coming weeks.
The opening of the facility moved a step closer after it received critical medical equipment, paving the way for the commencement of operations.
The 425-bed hospital, one of the largest public health investments undertaken jointly by the National Government and the Nairobi City County Government, is expected to significantly improve access to quality and specialised healthcare for hundreds of thousands of residents in Dagoretti, Kawangware, Riruta, Uthiru, Waithaka, Kabiria, Ngando and neighbouring areas.
According to Dr.Martin, the delivery of the sophisticated medical machines fulfils a commitment made during an earlier inspection of the project with President William Ruto.
Among the equipment delivered are three fully equipped operating theatres, a modern CT scan machine, advanced laboratory diagnostic equipment and dialysis machines, all of which will enable the hospital to provide specialised treatment that has previously been available only at major referral hospitals.
The CT scan machine will allow doctors to produce detailed images of internal organs, bones, blood vessels and soft tissues, enabling faster diagnosis of conditions such as stroke, cancer, traumatic injuries, internal bleeding and complex fractures.
The technology is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for advanced imaging services.
The dialysis unit will offer life-saving treatment to patients suffering from kidney failure by filtering waste products and excess fluids from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform that function.
The new service is expected to save patients from the burden of travelling several times a week to Kenyatta National Hospital and other referral facilities for treatment.
The fully equipped operating theatres will support a wide range of surgical procedures, including emergency surgeries, orthopaedic operations, obstetric and gynaecological procedures, general surgery and other specialised interventions.
“The facility will also have advanced laboratory equipment which will help enhance disease diagnosis through faster and more accurate testing, allowing clinicians to make timely treatment decisions,” he said
The commissioning of the expanded facility is expected to substantially ease congestion at Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Pumwani Maternity Hospital and other public facilities that have for years experienced overwhelming patient numbers due to increasing demand for specialised medical services.
Residents who previously travelled across Nairobi in search of dialysis, advanced imaging, surgery and specialist consultations will now be able to access these services much closer to home, reducing waiting times, lowering transport costs and improving patient outcomes.
Beyond healthcare, the opening of Mutuini Hospital is expected to create hundreds of employment opportunities.
The facility will require additional doctors, specialist consultants, nurses, clinical officers, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, radiographers, biomedical engineers, nutritionists, physiotherapists, dialysis technicians, health records officers, pharmacists, support staff, cleaners, security personnel and administrative workers.
The increased activity around the hospital is also expected to stimulate local businesses including pharmacies, food vendors, transport operators and accommodation providers.
Dr.Martin said that all medical equipment installed in audited first.
” The nstallation, calibration and auditing of the equipment is currently underway to ensure every machine meets the required operational and safety standards before patients are admitted,”
Dr. Wafula noted that the hospital has been designed to operate as a modern referral facility capable of delivering comprehensive specialised care while maintaining high standards of patient safety, accountability and quality service delivery.
He said the additional equipment will strengthen the hospital’s capacity to manage complex medical conditions, reduce referrals to already overstretched hospitals and improve emergency response within Nairobi’s western region.
Residents have welcomed the development, saying the hospital is expected to become a major referral centre that will decongest existing facilities while bringing affordable, specialised healthcare services closer to thousands of Nairobi residents.
Once officially opened, Mutuini Hospital is expected to stand among Nairobi’s key public referral hospitals, strengthening the county’s healthcare system and supporting the government’s broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage
