Senators want county to streamline health services at Kiambu hospital

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago (second right) leads a team of leaders on a visit to Kiambu Level 5 Hospital on November 10, 2025/ALICE WAITHERA

Kiambu Level 5 Hospital is grappling with a confluence of systemic failures, from sluggish patient registration systems to a non-functional incinerator and inadequate mortuary facilities.

The issues were brought to light during a critical oversight visit by the Senate Assembly Committee on Health.

The senators, led by committee chairperson Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu senator), visited Kiambu level 5 and Karuri level 4 hospitals, and urged the county administration to swiftly streamline patient documentation system to curb the long queues witnessed in the facilities.

“A system failure at this first point of service prevents patients from progressing to clinical treatment, creating a fundamental blockage in care,” Mandago said.

The senators also expressed concerns over the overwhelming presence of underage mothers in the maternity and paediatric wings of the facility.

Mandago said many of the young mothers lacked the necessary identity documents, complicating their access to essential services.

Several young mothers were found to have been detained at the facility for up to three months due to their inability to pay hospital bills after failing to register under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The committee chairperson challenged the county government to find ways of supporting the underage mothers, including registering them under Wamatangi Care insurance scheme, which works with SHA.

The scheme launched in 2022 provides enhanced medical coverage for inpatient, outpatient and maternity care, including specific coverage for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, and offers a last expense cover of Sh100,000 to help with funeral costs.

In January this year, the county government waived maternity bills totalling Sh6 million after 50 mothers were detained at Thika Level 5 Hospital over bills.

Many teenage mothers have found themselves stranded in hospitals after failing to register under SHA which requires them to register independently from their guardians, with many failing to raise money for premiums.

“I strongly urge young mothers and the public in general to register under SHA for sustained healthcare,” Mandago said.

The committee also zeroed in on critical infrastructural and personnel deficiencies, expressing grave concerns over the non-operational incinerator for medical waste management. 

Senator Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma) said it was shocking that the facility has been dumping medical waste near residential areas, exposing residents to danger.

The senators also challenged the county government to allocate resources towards the hospital’s mortuary, which they said lacks some equipment.

Senator Maureen Mutinda echoed calls for system upgrades to reduce patient queues and urged healthcare workers to take responsibility and utilise the available resources maximally. 

The senators warned hospital boards against diverting revenue collected for hospital operations to other departments, leaving the facilities struggling to provide services and jeopardising Kenyans’ health.

MCA Joseph Muhinja, a member of the health committee in the county assembly, said funds for a new incinerator would be allocated in the supplementary budget.

The county faces a shortage of 6,000 nurses and was urged to engage health workers’ unions to allow for a structured system where skilled workers are recruited on contract and transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms to address the massive gap.

Muhinja confirmed that Sh120 million has been set aside for the Wamatangi Care Insurance scheme to cater to vulnerable families, adding that a unique identification number system will be set up to address the registration of young mothers without identity cards.