The Kitui County Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, led by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Ruth Koki, together with the three Chief Officers in the ministry, on Saturday provided an update on the state of healthcare in the county.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Kitui County Referral Hospital (KCRH), waziri Ruth Koki, highlighted major achievements, ongoing projects, and addressed recent media reports concerning the facility. Reaffirming the county’s commitment to delivering quality, equitable, and affordable health services to all residents. “Our focus remains on delivering efficient, equitable and quality healthcare to every resident of Kitui County,” Koki said.

According to waziri Ruth Koki, Kitui County currently operates 326 health facilities, the highest number of any county in Kenya. These include 14 hospitals, 54 health centres, and 258 dispensaries. Since the start of the 2025/2026 financial year, 16 new dispensaries have been operationalized, with an additional 25 expected to be also operationalized by the end of the fiscal year. The new dispensaries span across all sub-counties, including Sosoma and Masavi (Nguni Ward), Kimela and Katumbi (Tseikuru Ward), Kilimu (Kithumula/Kwa Mutonga Ward), Ngwate and Kangondi (Mutonguni Ward), Kathungu (Ikanga/Kyatune Ward), Isaa (Mutha Ward), Kyen’ge (Kauwi Ward), Kasang’u (Voo/Kyamatu Ward), Gatoroni (Tharaka Ward), and Kitooni (Kanyangi Ward).

Additionally, 2,470 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) 10 per village have been deployed to enhance community-level healthcare delivery.

Since 2023, the county has significantly strengthened specialized services by establishing an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Cancer Centre, Haemophilia Clinic, and by expanding dialysis and newborn care units at KCRH.

READ ALSO: Kitui County Receives Drugs Worth Ksh. 80 Million from KEMSA to Boost Health Services

Infrastructure development has also been a key focus. The county has: Installed an oxygen plant at Mwingi Level 4 Hospital, operationalized new maternity wings across several sub-counties, Completed outpatient blocks and general theatres, and increased the number of operational ambulances from 17 in 2022 to 28 in 2025. In addition, 1,096 healthcare workers have been promoted, and recruitment of 200 more is underway. The county also plans to digitize all 326 health facilities by June 2026 in partnership with the Kenya Digital Agency and Palladium Kenya.

Addressing recent media reports following the Senate Health Committee’s visit to KCRH on Wednesday October 22, waziri Ruth Koki clarified three key issues: management of TB patients, hospital congestion, and the non-functional mammogram unit.

She dismissed reports that tuberculosis patients share beds with non-infected patients. “When the senators visited, it’s true they found patients sharing beds due to congestion but no TB patient shared a bed with a non-TB patient,” Koki clarified. “We are addressing these matters factually, professionally, and transparently.” she affirmed.

Addressing hospital congestion, chief officer for Medical Services, Dr. Benson Musyoka, attributed the congestion to the sharp rise in patient numbers from 257,000 in FY 2022 to 409,000 in FY 2024/2025. “The increase reflects the public’s growing trust in our healthcare system. Many patients are also turning to public hospitals after some private facilities that no longer accept SHA card,” “We are a compassionate hospital we cannot turn patients away,” Dr. Musyoka said.

To mitigate congestion, the county has budgeted for the completion of a Mother-and-Child Health Block with a bed capacity of 276, which is expected to greatly ease overcrowding.

In her address, Chief Officer for Public Health and Sanitation, Lynn Kitwan, raised concerns over delayed reimbursements from the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the delays are in one way or the other crippling operations at public hospitals.

Kitwan said Kitui County Referral Hospital (KCRH) has only received Ksh 27 million out of Ksh 106 million in claims, leaving about Ksh. 79 million pending. KCRH alone has Ksh. 287 million in unpaid SHA bills with the delays severely affect service delivery. “When SHA delays reimbursements, it affects daily operations from maintaining buildings to buying essential and emergency drugs, fueling ambulances, and paying casuals,” she said.

She urged SHA to expedite reimbursements to ensure the sustainability of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the county. “We urge SHA to release the funds promptly so that Universal Health Coverage can truly serve citizens as intended.”

YOU MISSED: Kitui County and Kenya Utalii College Sign MoU to Establish Hospitality Campus in Tiva

Meanwhile, chief officer for Drugs and Medical Supplies, Aggrey Mutinda Kamba, confirmed that the mammogram machine used for breast cancer screening has been non-functional since April 2023 due to lack of maintenance after the expiry of a contract between the national government and the supplier.

However, he assured residents that breast cancer diagnoses are continuing through alternative methods. CO Kamba added that under the new National Equipment Services Programme (NESP), the county has prioritized acquiring a new mammogram machine, as well as MRI for KCRH and CT scan equipment for Mwingi Level 4 Hospital, and the equipping of all theatres in Kitui as  Mutitu Level 4 Hospital has already started been equipped. “We want to assure residents that breast cancer diagnosis is continuing, and once the new equipment is supplied, services will be fully restored,” he said.

Kitui has also made significant strides in maternal and child health. New maternity units have been opened in Kyuso, Nuu, and Nguni Sub-County Hospitals, while renovation works at Miambani, Malalani, and Mbitini Health Centres have improved delivery conditions. Construction of a Mother-and-Child Block at Mwingi Level 4 Hospital is ongoing and expected to greatly enhance maternal care capacity upon completion.

The Ministry has also improved the management and distribution of medical supplies through the construction of a modern drug store at KCRH and renovations of stores in Mwingi, Nuu, and Ikanga. These developments have reduced drug stock-outs and improved efficiency across the county’s health facilities.

Ends///