The Meru County Government has officially handed over the site for the construction of a new ward block at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to a contractor from the Ministry of Defence, paving the way for the start of works expected to begin within the next two weeks.
The handover was witnessed by county officials, representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and the contractor during an inspection tour of the ongoing first phase of the project that was promised by President William Ruto.
Speaking during the visit, Meru County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Dennis Mugambi said the project will help address the long-standing congestion at the county referral hospital and support plans to elevate the facility from a Level Five to a Level Six hospital.
“Her Excellency the Deputy Governor and the team from the Ministry of Defense together with the contractor are here and the site has officially been handed over. We have been informed that construction works for this phase are expected to begin within the next two weeks,” said Dr Mugambi.
He noted that the expansion project would bring critical specialized medical services closer to Meru residents, reducing the need for patients to travel to facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.
Dr Mugambi explained that the new wards will significantly increase the hospital’s bed capacity and improve the quality of healthcare services offered at the facility.
He said that the new units are expected to add more than 800 beds once complete.
“In other words, we are bringing services that residents used to seek in Nairobi closer to home. Patients seeking cancer treatment and other specialized services will no longer have to incur huge transport and accommodation costs travelling to other counties,” he said.
The Health CEC further said the current congestion at the hospital has forced some patients to share beds, a situation he expressed confidence would be resolved once the project is completed.
“Patients who have been forced to share beds will finally get relief because these wards will provide over 800 additional beds. This will greatly improve service delivery and restore dignity to our patients,” added Dr Mugambi.
Meru County Deputy Governor Linda Gakii, who accompanied officials from the Kenya Defence Forces led by Major Koech, said the county administration was pleased with the progress already made on the first phase of the project.
She noted that President Ruto had pledged to construct two major ward blocks for Meru residents, with the first phase already under construction at a cost of KSh500 million while the second phase has now been officially handed over to the contractor.
The Deputy Governor said the expanded facility will include several specialized units currently lacking at the hospital.
These include a maternity wing, pediatric ward, burns unit, orthopedic ward, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and High Dependency Unit (HDU).
“Today we came together with officers from the Kenya Defense Forces led by Major Koech and the contractor who will begin the second phase of construction. Once complete, these units will transform healthcare services in Meru because they will introduce facilities that are currently missing in the hospital,” said Linda Gakii
She added that the County government expects the ongoing construction works to be completed within the next three months, helping decongest the hospital and improve patient care.
Gakii also revealed that another health project is already underway at Nyambene Hospital, where construction of a KSh100 million unit has already started following a site handover conducted by Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia three weeks ago.
She thanked President William Ruto and the Ministry of Defense for supporting the county’s healthcare expansion plans, saying the project was proof that the President’s promise to Meru residents was being fulfilled.
“We thank President William Ruto together with the Kenya Defense Forces because through this partnership, we are going to uplift the status of this hospital. This was a promise made to the people of Meru and today we can already see that promise becoming a reality,” said Gakii.
Edited by John Majau
