Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital has officially launched the
construction of a modern 53-bed Newborn Unit, marking a significant step toward
easing congestion and improving maternal and neonatal care in Nairobi’s eastern
region.
The new facility is expected to address the rising number of
deliveries and newborn admissions that have stretched the hospital’s existing
capacity.
As one of the busiest maternity hospitals in Nairobi, Mama
Lucy receives hundreds of expectant mothers daily, many of them from densely
populated and low-income neighborhoods.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, the hospital’s
Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Fredrick Obwanda, described the project as a
historic milestone in addressing the persistent overcrowding that has
challenged the hospital’s maternity and neonatal wards for years.
“Congestion has been one of our biggest challenges. The
construction of this unit will provide enough space for mothers and promote
skin-to-skin, or kangaroo mother care, which is vital for newborn survival,”
said Dr. Obwanda.
The CEO added that the new facility will be equipped with
modern incubators, cots, and neonatal monitoring equipment to enhance the
hospital’s ability to handle critical cases.
The expanded unit will also provide a more comfortable
environment for both mothers and infants, ensuring that no baby is separated
from their mother during care.
The hospital’s Board Chairperson, Dr. Dorcus Kemunto, said
that the project represents a commitment to restoring dignity to mothers and
their newborns while advancing equitable access to quality healthcare.
“Access to maternal health remains a challenge for many
families, especially in densely populated, low-income areas where
infrastructure is limited. This project directly addresses those gaps by
prioritizing maternal and child health,” said Dr. Kemunto.
She added that the hospital’s expansion is part of a broader
effort to modernize county health facilities and improve service delivery for
women and children.
The project is being implemented in partnership with Newborn
Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360), a global initiative working to
reduce newborn mortality across Africa through innovation, training, and
improved medical equipment.
According to Prof. William Macharia, Chairperson of NEST360,
Mama Lucy Hospital received the largest single allocation , Sh240 million, from
a Sh190 million national fund dedicated to expanding and equipping newborn
units in Kenyan hospitals.
“Mama Lucy Hospital received the largest share of our
national allocation because of its high patient volumes and strategic
importance. This unit will help ease congestion and reduce the risk of
infections associated with overcrowding,” said Prof. Macharia.
The construction of the 53-bed unit will complement existing
neonatal facilities at the hospital and is expected to significantly improve
survival rates among newborns with complications such as prematurity and
infections.
The initiative aligns with Governor Johnson Sakaja’s health
sector transformation agenda, which identifies maternal and child health as a
top priority for Nairobi County.
Under his leadership, Nairobi’s Level 5 hospitals have been
placed under the management of chief executive officers to improve operational
efficiency, a model now being replicated across Level 4 hospitals.
The new unit at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital is projected to be
completed in early 2026.
Once operational, it will not only decongest the hospital
but also serve as a model for neonatal care in other public health facilities
across the county.
“This is more than just a construction project,” Dr. Obwanda
concluded.
“It is an investment
in the future of Nairobi’s mothers and babies — and a promise that every child
born here will have a fighting chance at life.”
