Construction of the new Sh29 billion Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) multi-speciality facility at Kiplombe, on the outskirts of Eldoret, has reached 11 per cent completion, members of the National Assembly's Health Committee were told during an oversight visit.

The first phase of the project will deliver a 2,000-bed hospital on a 45-acre site. The MPs were informed that this phase is expected to be finished by March 2027.

Nuclear medicine and medical tourism

MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Philip Kirwa said the new hospital would offer a wide range of specialised services, including nuclear medicine, modern operating theatres and laboratories.

He said the facility was designed to double as an international centre for medical research and medical tourism, and would handle complex conditions for which Kenyans currently travel to India and other countries.

Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli, who led the committee, said the Chinese contractors on site were making good progress and described the project as a landmark facility for Africa.

"We will be back in January to follow up on the progress because, as Parliament, we made sure all the required money is released," Sunkuli said.

Ebola preparedness

Before touring the construction site, the MPs visited the existing MTRH facility in Eldoret, where Dr Kirwa said the hospital had adequate isolation capacity for Ebola, including a 30-bed intensive care unit that can also be used for isolation.

"We have also received all the necessary material we require for the isolation and treatment of Ebola cases and protective gear for staff," he said, adding that the hospital was fully prepared to deal with Ebola and other emerging diseases.

The assurance comes as the country continues to manage its first Ebola outbreak, with health authorities still monitoring contacts in quarantine.

Committee satisfied with spending

Sunkuli said the committee was satisfied with how the hospital management had used funds allocated for salaries and development, but said MPs would look into delays in budgetary releases for the 2025/26 financial year.

He noted that MTRH is a key referral hospital serving more than half of the country as well as patients from neighbouring East African states.

"As Parliament, we provide funding for this hospital, among others, and hence we also have to play the oversight role," he said.

The Kiplombe project is expected to ease pressure on the existing MTRH and reduce the need for patients from western Kenya and the wider region to travel to Nairobi or abroad for specialised treatment.

Photos: The Star. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.