Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) will be treated in modernised wards after the country's largest referral hospital received upgrades worth about Sh130 million from private sector partners under its Adopt-a-Ward initiative.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale led the handover of the refurbished and equipped wards at the hospital in Nairobi on Thursday.

What was handed over

  • Co-operative Bank of Kenya, through the Co-operative Bank Foundation, spent about Sh100 million to reconstruct and equip three orthopaedic wards, including 96 orthopaedic beds. The bank said the project took six months.
  • The Nakumatt Molo Fire Victims Fund invested Sh30 million, including 40 three-crank electric beds for patients needing advanced care.

Together, the two contributions bring 136 new beds into a hospital that routinely struggles with congestion, receiving patients referred from across the country and the region.

Duale: an investment in humanity

Duale praised the partners and urged more corporates, foundations and development partners to adopt wards, provided their projects follow Ministry of Health standards.

"We sincerely appreciate our private sector partners," the CS said. "Your investment is not merely in infrastructure, but in humanity, hope, and better health outcomes."

He also stressed accountability, transparency and proper maintenance of donated equipment so that the facilities serve patients for years to come.

The handover was attended by KNH Board Chairman Abbas Gullet, Chief Executive Dr Richard Lesiyampe, Prime Bank founder and chairman Rasik Kantaria, and Co-operative Bank's Director of Corporate and Institutional Banking Lydia Rono.

Wider facelift at KNH

The Adopt-a-Ward programme was launched as the hospital seeks to renovate decades-old wards ahead of its 125th anniversary. KNH management has previously said each ward needs about Sh30 million, roughly Sh20 million for refurbishment and Sh10 million for equipment. Other banks and foundations have adopted wards on different floors of the hospital's tower block.

The ministry says other ongoing improvements at the hospital include a Nest360 newborn unit project, the use of 3D printing technology and renovation of Levels Seven and Eight. Duale linked the upgrades to the government's wider health agenda, including the expansion of Primary Care Networks in all 47 counties, the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and SHA's 922 emergency lifeline.

Health officials say public-private partnerships of this kind are key to expanding access to specialised care under Universal Health Coverage at a time when public hospitals face tight budgets.

Photos: Newsline; The Star. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.