The new complex brings critical services closer to home, reducing delays that can mean the difference between life and death

A section of facilities at the recently commissiomed Mother and Child Health Complex at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

Nandi county is stepping up efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare following the commissioning of the Mother and Child Health Complex at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

Governor Stephen Sang said the Mother and Child Health Complex, constructed by the county, is more than just a new building.

“It is a promise to mothers, newborns and families that quality care should not be a privilege reserved for those who can travel far or pay heavily for private services. The facility is expected to expand access to specialised services, including maternity theatres, intensive care, high-dependency care and renal services,” Sang said.

He said that, for generations, many families in Nandi had endured long journeys and costly referrals in search of advanced maternal and paediatric care.

The 300-bed complex is expected to increase Kapsabet County Referral Hospital’s overall capacity from 200 to 500 beds. It includes a 10-bed adult intensive care unit (ICU), an 18-bed preterm neonatal ICU, maternity theatres and advanced diagnostic equipment.

The facility was commissioned by President Ruto two weeks ago.

Governor Sang said the investment responds directly to one of the most important measures of a county’s development: how safely a mother can deliver and how well a child can survive and thrive after birth.

“When mothers receive timely antenatal care, skilled delivery services, emergency obstetric care and postnatal support, entire families and communities become healthier and more productive,” he said.

The commissioning of the facility stands as a defining milestone in Sang’s legacy since he assumed office in 2017.

The governor said that, from the beginning, his administration had identified healthcare as a central pillar of its development agenda. It had promised to transform a sector that was then struggling with frequent health worker strikes, drug shortages, weak infrastructure and limited specialised services.

Under Sang, the county has expanded the number of health facilities from 120 to 155, increased healthcare financing, recruited and supported health workers, improved drug supply systems and invested in maternity units, laboratories, ambulances, theatres and diagnostic services.

The results are evident in improved maternal outcomes. Skilled deliveries have risen from 36.9 per cent in 2017 to 65 per cent, placing Nandi among Kenya’s top four safest counties for childbirth.

Governor Sang said his vision had been to ensure residents could access quality medical services within a five-kilometre radius, rather than travelling long distances to Eldoret, Kisumu or Nairobi.

“The Mother and Child Health Complex is therefore the culmination of that promise: a modern, specialised facility that brings advanced maternal and newborn care to the people of Nandi. It is not merely a project being opened; it is a legacy being handed to future generations,” he said.

Sang also hailed President Ruto’s support for the project, saying it demonstrated how county and national governments should work together.