By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, June 30, 2026 - The government says the expansion of Mama Rachel Ruto Specialist Hospital in Nairobi will significantly reduce pressure on Kenyatta National Hospital while bringing specialised healthcare closer to millions of Kenyans.
The facility in Mutuini, Dagoretti South, has been upgraded from a 40-bed hospital into a 400-bed Level 5 specialist referral hospital and is expected to serve about 1.5 million patients annually once it becomes fully operational.
The project is part of the government's drive to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improve maternal and newborn healthcare under the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) framework.
State Department for Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the upgraded hospital will improve access to specialised treatment for residents of Nairobi and neighbouring counties.
According to Omollo, the facility will also help decongest Kenyatta National Hospital by providing advanced referral services closer to where patients live.
"The facility has been upgraded into a Level 5 specialist referral hospital with a capacity of 400 beds, up from 40, and is expected to serve approximately 1.5 million patients annually," Omollo said.
The hospital will offer advanced maternity and newborn care, intensive care and high dependency units, a renal centre, modern diagnostic and radiology services, specialised laboratories and fully equipped operating theatres.
Among its unique features is the introduction of human milk banks, which will provide specialised nutritional support for vulnerable newborn babies requiring critical care.
Beyond treating patients, the hospital has also been designed to support medical training, specialised consultations and referral services for health workers across the region.
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The government says the project is nearing completion, with major medical equipment already delivered and installation underway.
"The project is nearing operationalisation, with critical medical equipment, including dialysis units, CT scan machines and theatre systems, already delivered and installation underway," Omollo said.
Construction of supporting facilities, including the kitchen and laundry block, is also progressing.
Omollo attributed the project's progress to collaboration between the national and county governments, saying coordinated implementation had helped accelerate the hospital's development.
"The Government remains committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and advancing the health and well-being of women and children through initiatives such as the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) framework," he said.
Once operational, the hospital is expected to expand access to specialised healthcare, particularly maternal, newborn and renal services, while strengthening Nairobi's referral health system and reducing patient congestion at existing public hospitals.