PS Mariru Commits to Fast-Track Ksh. 200 Million Nzamba Kitonga Hospital as Malombe Praises Government Support
The National Government, through the Ministry of Defence, has reaffirmed its commitment to fast-track the construction of the Ksh. 200 million Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital in Mutitu/Kaliku Ward, Kitui East Sub-County, with Defence Principal Secretary Dr. Patrick Mariru assuring residents that the project will be completed within 9 months.
The planned Level 4 hospital located in Mutitu/Kaliku Ward has been named in honour of the late Phillip Nzamba Kitonga, the renowned constitutional lawyer who chaired the Committee of Experts that drafted Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
The groundbreaking ceremony and unveiling of the plaque for the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital was held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the scenic slopes of Mutitu Hills in Kitui East Constituency, marking the beginning of what leaders described as a transformative healthcare project for the region.
Speaking during the event, PS Mariru said the government under President William Ruto had fully committed the entire Ksh. 200 million required for the construction of the facility. He noted that the Ministry of Defence will supervise the implementation of the project to ensure quality and timely completion.
Mariru assured residents that construction works would be undertaken in record time, expressing confidence that the hospital would be complete by December this year. “The government is committed to ensuring this project is completed within record time so that wananchi can begin benefiting from improved healthcare services,” said Dr. Mariru.
The Defence PS further emphasized the Kenya Kwanza administration under President William Ruto remains committed to equitable distribution of development projects across the country, saying every region deserves equal access to government services and infrastructure. “The President is committed to serving all Kenyans equally, and every part of the country is receiving its fair share of development projects,” said Mariru.
Kitui Governor Julius Malombe hailed the project as a major milestone in his administration’s efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services in the county.
Governor Malombe said the establishment of the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital was informed by lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2021, which exposed serious weaknesses in the healthcare system, particularly in the management of respiratory and infectious diseases. “The establishment of the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital has been informed by lessons learnt during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed major gaps in preparedness and management of respiratory and infectious diseases globally and locally, including inadequate isolation wards, limited specialized respiratory disease treatment units, insufficient diagnostic and laboratory capacity, and weak emergency referral systems within the region,” said the Governor.
The Governor revealed that he initiated the project following the death of renowned constitutional lawyer Nzamba Kitonga in 2020, describing the hospital as a lasting tribute to his immense contribution to the country.
Once complete, the two-storey hospital will have a 94-bed capacity and is expected to transform the current Level IV facility into a specialized teaching and referral hospital focusing on respiratory and infectious diseases. The facility is expected to serve residents from the entire eastern region of Kitui County and neighbouring areas.
Governor Malombe also commended President William Ruto for supporting the project through the allocation of Ksh 200 million by the National Government. He disclosed that the President approved the project after he made the request during a meeting at the Kitui Mini State Lodge during the 2025 Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Kitui County.
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Under the arrangement, the Ministry of Defence will oversee the construction works while the County Government of Kitui will be responsible for equipping the hospital and deploying healthcare workers once the project is completed.
Leaders and residents who attended the event expressed optimism that the project will significantly improve healthcare services in Kitui East and Kitui County at large reducing the burden of patients seeking specialized treatment outside the county.
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