Kenya’s President Kenyatta inaugurates advanced Military Hospital

KENYA – Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has launched an ultra-modern Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) regional hospital with a 105-bed capacity to improve the welfare of the country’s security sector.

The advanced Level 4 Regional Hospital established in Isiolo County will cater to the healthcare needs of service personnel, their dependents and veterans in the upper Eastern region including Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Meru, Nanyuki and Samburu counties.

The hospital offers Level 4 specialized services such as surgical, internal medicine, obstetric/gynecological services, pediatric services and critical care to service members and their families within the upper Eastern region.

The facility marks a crucial step in the healthcare reforms for the disciplined forces that are in line with the Government’s agenda on Universal Health Coverage as well as reduce the time taken and resources previously used by service members and their families to travel all the way to Nairobi.

During the launch at Isiolo Barracks in Meru County, President Uhuru Kenyatta was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries in Defence, Health, Agriculture namely Eugene Wamalwa, Mutahi Kagwe and Peter Munya respectively as well as Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.

President Kenyatta revealed that the state-of-the-art Isiolo Regional Hospital is also part of the modernization of institutions of state and security organs that his administration has been implementing since 2013.

“The Government has undertaken modernization of our institutions of state and security organs during my two terms in office to an extent that is unparalleled in our nation’s history,” emphasized Kenyatta.

He said that the KDF Isiolo Regional Hospital also adds to the Level 4 hospital already opened at Kahawa Garrison in Nairobi County and the Trauma and Counselling Centre at Manda in Lamu County.

He further said that the upgrade of the Forces Memorial Hospital to a Level 5 facility was underway as well as the ongoing construction of the Level 6 Hospital for the defence forces located off Waiyaki Way in Nairobi.

Moreover, three other modern health facilities are in various stages of construction in Eldoret for the Kenya Defence Forces, in Ruiru for the Prisons Service and at Mbagathi for the National Police Service.

The Head of State added that the Government has also boosted the welfare and social support of the disciplined forces by securing the dignity of service members and their families through provision of decent and affordable housing.

Speaking at the launch, Defence Cabinet Secretary Wamalwa reaffirmed that the Ministry of Defence has invested heavily in health facilities strategically across the country in line with the Universal Health Coverage pillar of the Big 4 Agenda.

He asserted that the newly commissioned facility will ensure healthcare access to retired military personnel and their families through the Defence Forces Insurance scheme and other members of security service through the National Hospital Insurance Fund.

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