Construction of the Sh29 billion Multi-Specialty Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County, has reached 11 per cent completion, with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health calling for adequate funding to sustain the project.

Committee member and Kilgoris Member of Parliament (MP) Julius Sunkuli said the committee had inspected the ongoing works on Wednesday to assess progress and verify the utilisation of funds allocated to the project.

“Now we came here in order to oversight that budgetary provision which we made, the money which we gave them,” said Sunkuli, adding that the committee was satisfied that construction was underway.

He said the first phase, which will occupy 45 acres, was expected to significantly expand specialised healthcare services and ease pressure on existing facilities.

“The expected bed capacity for this hospital is 2,000 beds in the first phase,” he said, noting that the facility would incorporate inpatient services, specialised departments and other essential hospital services.

Sunkuli said the committee had engaged the Chinese contractors undertaking the project and expected substantial progress by April next year.

“We just want to ensure that they are well funded so that they continue to do the work,” he said, adding that the committee would return in January to assess progress.

MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa said the first phase of the project would comprise a 2,000-bed hospital equipped with specialised services, including nuclear medicine, modern laboratories and theatres.

Kirwa said the facility was expected to attract patients from across Africa and beyond, reducing the need for Kenyans and other patients in the region to seek specialised treatment abroad.

“This will be a modern hospital, actually in Africa, biggest in Africa,” he said.

He added that the master plan included research facilities, biobanks and other supporting institutions, with international institutions expressing interest in partnerships to support the development of the facility.

Kirwa said the project was also expected to stimulate economic growth in Kiplombe and surrounding areas through increased demand for accommodation, food supplies and other services, potentially creating a new urban centre on the outskirts of Eldoret City.

On his part, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron said access to specialised healthcare in Kenya was constrained more by the availability of specialised services and expertise than by financial challenges.

“The issues about the specialised treatments like cancer, the specialised treatment like kidney transplant are because of specialities, not necessarily because of financial,” said Oron.

He said the Social Health Authority (SHA) provided financial support for eligible specialised treatments, including cancer care and kidney transplants, adding that Kenyan referral hospitals continued to receive patients from neighbouring countries seeking cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Oron cited MTRH and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) as among the facilities providing specialised cancer services to patients from Kenya and neighbouring countries.

The 4,000-bed Multi-Specialty Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) project in Kiplombe is expected to expand the hospital’s capacity to provide specialised inpatient care, diagnostic services, treatment and medical research.

by Fredrick Maritim