Leaders from Tharaka Nithi and Taita Taveta counties have described Kirinyaga county as a trailblazer in the rollout and efficient use of the Facility Improvement Financing (FIF).
FIF gives public hospitals the authority to retain and use own source revenue.
Kirinyaga has already operationalised the FIF model by appointing hospital boards and committees that are supposed to oversee prudent use of funds generated by medical facilities on some of the operating costs.
Speaking during a benchmarking visit by Members of Tharaka Nithi county assembly and senior health officials from Taita Taveta county, the delegation said Kirinyaga leads in health services delivery and facilities improvement financing.
The team toured the 341-bed capacity medical complex at the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital.
It noted that FIF has resulted in improved health services and helped facilities increase their revenue collection, helping them to serve residents better.
Chogoria MCA Franklin Mawira said he was impressed by the successful rollout of FIF and the ongoing transformation of the health sector in the county.
He said Kirinyaga has greatly improved on health infrastructure and service delivery, making it an ideal destination for benchmarking. In 2023, another delegation from the Tharaka Nithi county executive also visited the facility.
Mawira said the MCAs had taken note of the ultra-modern Kerugoya Medical Complex and its functioning and innovative approaches to healthcare.
These include deployment of technology like the Hospital Management Integrated System, which ensures evaluation of the healthcare system.
“This hospital is run very well. The newborn unit is a game changer for mothers,” Mawira said.
"You also have a functional psychiatry department that reduces overreliance on national facilities like Mathari. FIF is clearly working here, it is the way to go."
Ngariama MCA Daniel Kibinga, representing the Kirinyaga county assembly, said he was pleased to witness firsthand how the FIF legislation passed by the assembly is helping to transform healthcare delivery.
“We have seen it for ourselves and it is working,” he said. “Kerugoya County Referral Hospital is running efficiently. If something breaks down, the board can approve immediate use of funds. There’s no delay waiting for the Controller of Budget,” he said.
Taita Taveta Health chief officer Violet Mkamburi said the devolved unit is preparing to construct a Level 5 facility.
The visit, therefore, aimed to draw lessons on design, units, utilities and the running of a modern hospital.
She said the Kerugoya Medical Centre had exceeded their expectations, and the team had picked vital lessons on service delivery.
“We chose this hospital because we had heard great things, and what we have seen today confirms all the good things we heard,” Mkamburi said.
"We have found exactly what we are looking for and shall implement some of these best practices back home."
She added that the lessons picked from Kirinyaga would also guide improvement of the management of Taita Taveta’s health facilities.
Dr Mwendia Mutema, head of infectious diseases in Kirinyaga, said the successful implementation of the FIF had been made possible by the deliberate efforts of Governor Anne Waiguru, who he said has ensured all the legal requirements are met.
“We are among the few counties implementing this fund successfully. Most of our recurrent services run smoothly now,” Dr Mutema said.
"The demand for quality and affordable healthcare services has continued to increase and FIF is helping us meet some of our healthcare demands."
So far, seven counties, including Turkana, Laikipia, Kiambu, Nyeri, Bomet, Tharaka Nithi and Taita Taveta, have visited the facility on a learning tour.
Waiguru has previously said the benchmarking visits are a testament that the health sector transformation in Kirinyaga was bearing fruit, adding that her administration has invested heavily in infrastructural and service delivery reforms.
This has enabled a robust healthcare system that is responsive to the growing demand for contemporary and high-quality services.
