President William Ruto has reaffirmed the national government’s commitment to partnering with county governments to strengthen universal healthcare delivery under the Social Health Authority (SHA). The Head of State said the government is keen on ensuring that primary healthcare and social health insurance comprehensively serve all Kenyans, especially those in rural and underserved areas.
Speaking after a meeting with Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe and top county health officials at the State Lodge in Kitui, President Ruto said the discussions centred on strategies to bolster healthcare provision in the county. The President emphasized that both levels of government must collaborate closely to address gaps in the health sector and make critical services more accessible and affordable.
The meeting explored ways of improving service delivery in public health facilities across Kitui, with a focus on leveraging the Social Health Authority to provide sustainable financing for essential medical care. Governor Malombe welcomed the partnership, saying Kitui County is ready to work hand-in-hand with the national government to transform its health sector.
President Ruto said the government is currently modernising public hospitals through the National Equipment Service Programme, which provides, maintains, and upgrades medical equipment using a fee-for-service model. He noted that the initiative is being implemented not only in Kitui but also in counties across the country.
Under this programme, service providers equip hospitals with advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies that are often difficult for counties to acquire or maintain due to high costs. These include MRI machines, CT scanners, X-ray equipment, and ultra-sound machines that are critical for early diagnosis and treatment.
The President highlighted that modern diagnostic capacity is key to achieving universal healthcare because it reduces referrals, shortens treatment times, and improves patient outcomes. Counties like Kitui, he said, stand to benefit significantly from enhanced equipment capacity in both Level 4 and Level 5 hospitals.
During the Kitui meeting, leaders also reviewed the progress of ongoing health reforms under the Social Health Authority, especially issues relating to enrolment, service coverage, and hospital readiness. President Ruto said SHA is central to ensuring that no Kenyan is denied treatment due to lack of funds.
In a major development for Kitui County, President Ruto announced that the national government will allocate KSh200 million for the construction of a Level 4 hospital in Mutito. The facility will be named Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital, in honour of the late Nzamba Kitonga, who chaired the Committee of Experts that drafted the 2010 Constitution.
The President said the new hospital will significantly boost access to healthcare for residents of Mutito and neighbouring regions. Once complete, the facility is expected to reduce pressure on existing hospitals and bring specialized services closer to communities that have long traveled long distances for treatment.
Governor Malombe thanked the President for the investment, describing it as a landmark step toward improving health infrastructure in the county. He said that with continued collaboration between the county and national governments, Kitui residents can expect major advancements in healthcare delivery in the coming years.
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