Senators demand regional referral hospitals to end Nairobi-centric healthcare
Kenyan senators have tabled a motion urging the Health Ministry to build and equip national teaching and referral hospitals in all regions, arguing that overreliance on Nairobi facilities leads to preventable deaths.
The Senate is pushing for a nationwide expansion of Kenya’s healthcare system, calling for the establishment of national teaching and referral hospitals in all regions.
Senators argue that concentrating advanced medical services in Nairobi leaves millions of Kenyans without timely access to critical care and contributes to preventable deaths.
In a motion presented in the Senate, legislators are urging the Ministry of Health, led by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, to allocate resources for building, upgrading, and equipping referral hospitals across the Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, Nyanza, and Western regions.
Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla, who moved the motion, emphasised the human toll of the current setup.
“Many patients have died on the way to hospitals because of the distance,” she said.
“We want health services closer to our people, especially the specialised and referral services required for terminally ill patients and those needing emergency interventions,” Ogolla added.
Kenya currently has five national teaching and referral hospitals: Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital in Kiambu; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret; Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi; National Spinal Injuries Referral Hospital in Nairobi; and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Senators point out that this concentration forces patients with cancer, chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and severe injuries to travel long distances to access care that local facilities cannot provide.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei underlined the importance of making healthcare accessible to all. “If you think about cancer or mental health issues, right now the most dependable mental health facility in the country is Mathari,” he said.
“What happens to people who are far from Nairobi and its environs?”
The Senator warned that rural and marginalised communities are at greatest risk of delayed treatment.
The motion calls on the ministry not only to build new hospitals but also to ensure they are fully equipped with modern diagnostic tools, adequate medical supplies, and trained staff to provide quality care.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch highlighted the need for specialised services to manage the rise in chronic illnesses.
“We are going to save many lives if we can have a myriad of these national referral hospitals taking care of bigger issues, including the chronic diseases that are straining our current health system,” he said.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi pointed out that many county hospitals are unable to meet the growing demand for specialised care.
He cited understaffing, poor management, and weak governance as persistent challenges in devolved health units.
Senators stressed that constructing new facilities without sufficient equipment and personnel will not resolve systemic healthcare problems.
He warned that rural and marginalised communities are at greatest risk of delayed treatment.
Senators stressed that constructing new facilities without sufficient equipment and personnel will not resolve systemic healthcare problems.
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