How Riruta’s upgrade to Level IV hospital is transforming healthcare across Dagoreti

For years, the residents of Dagoreti North and parts of neighbouring Dagoreti South have leaned heavily on Riruta Health Centre as their closest and most reliable source of medical care.

In the densely populated wards of Kabiro, Kawangware and Riruta, most families have long depended on small dispensaries, with Mutuini Level IV Hospital at the far end of Dagoreti South being the nearest higher-capacity facility.

That dependence is now shifting. After years of neglect and underfunding, the county government has elevated Riruta Health Centre to a Level IV hospital, placing it among the 11 facilities in Nairobi with that status.

The upgrade marks a turning point for a centre that has remained one of the busiest public health facilities in the city, serving close to 750 patients every day.

Inside the facility, the pressure is most visible in the maternity and child health sections. Mothers cram into limited spaces, staff stretch themselves to cover rising demand, and equipment is often not enough for the number of patients seeking help.

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice found notable progress in the ongoing transformation but also highlighted just how urgently sustained investment is needed to match the pace of population growth.

The maternity wing remains visibly overstretched, lacking the space and equipment required to safely manage the daily flow of mothers and newborns.

Despite the challenges, momentum is building. On Thursday, the hospital hosted a delegation of private organisations investing in health services — a visit that signalled a slowly changing attitude towards partnerships between public institutions and private players.

County officials say such collaborations will be key in pushing forward the hospital’s modernisation efforts and improving operational efficiency.

Local leadership is taking notice. Kawangware MCA Fredrick Njogu described the elevation of Riruta to a Level IV facility as long overdue, saying the new status brings both opportunity and responsibility.

“This facility serves the communities of Kabiro, Kawangware, and Riruta. Elevating it to Level IV means more resources, more specialists, and more equipment. Ultimately, it means better healthcare for our people,” he said.

Projections by officials show that once the planned expansion and improvements take shape, the hospital could handle up to 1,200 patients a day, nearly double its current load.

Such growth would ease pressure on surrounding facilities and bring essential services much closer to thousands of families who have had to travel long distances for care.

Some progress is already visible. The hospital has introduced a new rehabilitation centre and installed modern phototherapy machines, a welcome step for newborn care.

These additions are expected to ease the management of neonatal jaundice and reduce referrals to distant hospitals.

Other Topics To Read

• Health
• Nairobi County
• Community Health Promoters
• UHC
• Kawangware
• Riruta
• Dagoretti South
• Riruta Health Centre
• Dagoreti North
• Kabiro
• How Riruta’s upgrade to Level IV hospital is transforming healthcare across Dagoreti
• Headlines

For Dagoreti North, where public amenities have struggled to keep pace with rapid population growth, the changes at Riruta Level IV are widely seen as a long-awaited victory.

Staff and community members say the improvements are slowly lifting morale and restoring confidence in the facility after years of strain.

Still, much remains to be done. Stakeholders say the next phase must prioritise expanding the maternity wing, hiring additional staff and ensuring that funding consistently matches the hospital’s widening responsibilities.

Chief Executive Officer Alice Kariuki is confident that the momentum will continue, noting that the upgrade is already shaping a new future for healthcare in the constituency.

“With the momentum now building, Riruta Level IV Hospital stands on the cusp of becoming a fully equipped, high-capacity centre capable of delivering dignified, modern, and accessible healthcare to thousands of Nairobi residents,” she said.

To support service delivery, at least 15 Community Health Promoters have been deployed to the facility. Staff say most patients rely on Social Health Authority (SHA) funding when seeking care.

As the transformation unfolds, many in Dagoreti North hope the change will not only ease today’s burden but also set the standard for reviving other long-neglected public hospitals across Nairobi.