For years, complicated births and critically ill newborns could push Nairobi families into a difficult search for specialised treatment. County health facilities had limited intensive care capacity, leaving some patients dependent on referrals or more expensive alternatives.
Now, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja says that picture is changing.
The county government has expanded specialised healthcare services across its public facilities, establishing 23 neonatal intensive care units, 20 adult ICUs and 224 newborn care units over the past four years.
The investment, Sakaja says, is giving more hospitals the ability to manage complicated deliveries and care for critically ill newborns.
“Over the last four years, we have added 224 newborn units, 23 neonatal ICUs and 20 adult ICUs across Nairobi,” Sakaja said. “Facilities that previously lacked the capacity to safely handle complicated births can now deliver babies and provide specialised care.”
From basic maternity care to specialised treatment
The changes are particularly visible in facilities that have expanded their capacity to handle high-risk pregnancies and newborn emergencies.
Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital are among the facilities that have received additional neonatal intensive care capacity.
The expansion means that county hospitals are increasingly able to provide treatment that was previously beyond their capacity.
Sakaja said the county had moved from a situation where its public health facilities lacked ICU capacity to one with specialised units serving both newborns and adults.
The focus, he said, is to ensure that patients can receive critical care within the public health system and closer to the communities where they live.
More hospitals now handling Caesarean sections
The transformation has also extended to maternity theatres and Caesarean-section services.
Facilities including Mathare North, Riruta, Pumwani-Malenga, Kasarani and Ruai have expanded their capacity to provide specialised maternity care.
Mathare North, despite being a relatively small facility, has performed 65 Caesarean sections since November, according to the governor.
The increased capacity is expected to reduce pressure on larger hospitals while allowing more women to access maternity services without travelling across the city.
“From Mama Lucy, Mama Margaret Uhuru and Mbagathi to Mathare North, Riruta, Pumwani-Malenga, Kasarani and Ruai, we are bringing specialised maternity services closer to our people,” Sakaja said.
A growing safety net for newborns
The establishment of neonatal intensive care units represents one of the most significant parts of the county’s healthcare expansion.
Newborns requiring specialised attention can now be treated in more county facilities, reducing dependence on referrals to hospitals with advanced equipment.
For families, access to neonatal care can also mean avoiding the financial and logistical burden of seeking specialised services elsewhere.
The county’s investment in newborn care is part of a broader attempt to strengthen hospitals beyond their traditional role of providing basic outpatient and maternity services.
With more newborn care units and neonatal ICUs in place, facilities are being equipped to manage increasingly complex medical cases.
Renal care joins the expansion
The county has also expanded services for patients requiring kidney care.
At Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, the expanded renal unit attended to 113 patients in August alone, according to Sakaja.
He said the availability of renal services within county hospitals was helping patients access treatment closer to home and at a lower financial burden.
The services are also covered under the Social Health Authority, offering patients an additional layer of financial support.
“Patients who previously had to seek care elsewhere at high cost can now receive it in our own county facilities,” Sakaja said.
Building a different kind of public health system
The changes point to a wider shift in how Nairobi County is positioning its public hospitals.
Rather than functioning mainly as facilities for basic healthcare, more hospitals are now being equipped to handle complicated births, critically ill newborns, intensive care cases and chronic conditions requiring specialised treatment.
The combination of neonatal ICUs, adult ICUs, maternity theatres and expanded renal services is intended to create a stronger network of care across the city.
For Nairobi residents, the impact of the expansion will ultimately be measured not only by the number of new units established, but by whether specialised treatment becomes more accessible when families need it most.
