For the National Police Service, the wait to construct a level 6 hospital for their personnel has been long and torturous.
Police teams have been sitting and planning for the National Police Referral Hospital, but this went up in dreams.
It was not until a few officials from the military and police met President Uhuru Kenyatta that the idea was floated to him.
Those in the know said the military personnel informed the President they had land for the construction of the hospital and given the police had the finances, it would be ideal if they (military) took over the exercise.
The President ordered the plans be shared with the military, who would be the lead team in the design to have the facility.
On Tuesday, the construction of the Kenya Research and Referral Hospital was commissioned at Kabete Barracks in Nairobi.
The hospital is set to be a centre of excellence in medical care for all security agencies in Kenya, offering comprehensive medical care and acting as a referral facility for the regional hospitals.
According to the military, it will also be a medical research facility. It will have an oncology department to deal with cancer-related complications, an outpatient unit, an emergency unit with 15 operating theatres and an inpatient unit with 11 floors and 700 beds.
Chinese company, China Wu Yi, will construct the facility on a four-acre land.
The move has ended the long wait for the NPS to construct a hospital that they could call theirs.
They have been relying on KDF and other private hospitals to provide services to their personnel. They will now share with all security agencies including the military, NPS, Prisons, Kenya Wildlife Service, KFS and NYS.
The President praised the move, saying it would increase the capacity of the country to handle many health complications.
“It’s a proud day for all of us because it’s the first project of this magnitude since 1970s to ensure those who protect the country are given the best medical care,” he said.
Uhuru said the Kabete facility will cater to all security agencies and support civilian agencies in the civil service as part of the Big 4 agenda of universal health coverage.
Present were top military commanders led by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi, Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, Commissioner General of Kenya Prisons and representatives of the National Youth Service, the Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The others were Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Monicah Juma (Defence), Ukur Yatani (Treasury), Mutahi Kagwe (Health) and Attorney General Paul Kihara.
Police authorities had in 2018 announced they had identified land near Kenyatta National Hospital for the construction of the facility, but the plan was shelved after they were informed the military would provide the same.
Another land that had been identified along Mombasa Road was taken over by the Inland Container Depot.
According to the police plans from 2018 the main objective of the project is for the police officers and their families to access quality, accessible and affordable healthcare. The Cabinet had approved construction that was to cost Sh22 billion.
They argued that ever since Kenya attained independence in 1963, police officers had never had a dedicated health facility to attend to officers and their dependants whenever they fell sick or got injured in the course of their duties.
“The upshot of this situation is that police officers and their dependants have been forced to seek medical attention in civilian health facilities, which are often themselves invariably overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients that flock those hospitals to access affordable medical care on a daily basis,” an advert indicated.
It said the government was desirous of constructing the first 700-bed (level 6) hospital in Nairobi to exclusively cater for the needs of the police and their families through a government grant.
Gen Kibochi said all agencies were involved in the development of the designs for the facility.
The Administration Police Service is also constructing a 160-bed hospital in Kanyonyo, Kitui county.
President Kenyatta promised to equip it once it is complete this year. It will have a runway and communication centre for security operations in the region.
Early this year, the KDF commissioned the construction of a new hospital to serve its soldiers and families in Nairobi region.
The hospital being constructed at Kahawa Barracks will be known as Nairobi Region Hospital.
Commander Kenya Army Lt Gen Walter Koipaton said the hospital will serve both KDF soldiers and families in Nairobi region and beyond.
The construction will be a relief for the service as it will help the growing demand for services at the old and congested Forces Memorial Hospital along Mbagathi Road, Nairobi.
Edited by A.N
