Residents of Nakuru County and the wider Rift Valley region are set to benefit from a major upgrade in emergency and critical care services following the revival of the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH) Trauma Centre project.
The facility, which had stalled for more than 14 years after being conceived in 2010, was officially revived in November 2025 under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika.
Once complete, the trauma centre is expected to serve as a primary emergency response hub along the Northern Transport Corridor — a highway network frequently associated with serious road traffic accidents.
A Lifeline Along the Northern Corridor
The Northern Transport Corridor connects Mombasa to Uganda and other East African countries, making it one of the busiest road networks in the region. However, its heavy traffic flow has also made it a hotspot for accidents involving public service vehicles, cargo trucks and private motorists.
The new trauma centre is designed to provide immediate, specialised critical care for accident victims, significantly reducing fatalities through rapid emergency intervention and stabilisation.
Health officials say the facility will enhance trauma response capacity not just for Nakuru residents but also for patients referred from neighbouring counties across the Rift Valley.
Partnership With National Government and KDF
The completion of the centre is being executed through a partnership between the County Government of Nakuru and the National Government, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) providing technical expertise.
The collaboration is expected to accelerate construction timelines and ensure the facility meets national medical infrastructure standards.
On Wednesday, a joint inspection team comprising officials from the Department of Defence, County Departments of Health and Infrastructure, and NCRTH management conducted a site audit to assess progress and align implementation plans.
County officials affirmed that the Departments of Health and Infrastructure will continue to work closely with the Department of Defence to ensure the project is delivered efficiently and within required standards.
Ending a 14-Year Wait
The revival of the trauma centre brings renewed optimism after more than a decade of delays that left the project dormant.
Governor Kihika’s administration has prioritised completing stalled flagship projects, positioning the trauma centre as a critical investment in public health and emergency preparedness.
Once operational, the facility is expected to:
- Reduce mortality from road traffic injuries
- Improve critical care response times
- Strengthen referral systems within the Rift Valley
- Ease pressure on existing emergency units at NCRTH
A Regional Referral Hub in the Making
Beyond handling accident-related injuries, the trauma centre is expected to strengthen Nakuru’s status as a regional medical hub.
As NCRTH continues to expand its teaching and referral capacity, the trauma facility will play a central role in improving training, research, and specialised treatment in emergency medicine.
For residents along the Northern Corridor and across the Rift Valley, the completion of the long-awaited project represents more than infrastructure — it signals a strengthened emergency safety net where every minute can mean the difference between life and death.
