Kitui East Member of Parliament Hon. Nimrod Mbai has urged President William Ruto to elevate the Kitui County Referral Hospital to a Level Five facility to improve healthcare access across the region.
Speaking during a leaders’ engagement forum at the Mini State Lodge in Kitui, the outspoken UDA legislator emphasized the need for advanced healthcare infrastructure to serve the growing population of Kitui and the wider Lower Eastern region.
Hon. Mbai noted that upgrading the hospital would greatly reduce the burden of referrals to health facilities in Nairobi and other counties. He stated that many residents are forced to travel long distances for specialized treatment, a burden that strains both families and the national referral systems.
The lawmaker emphasized that a Level Five hospital comes with advanced medical equipment and skilled personnel capable of handling complicated health cases. He added that such an upgrade would bring essential healthcare services closer to the people, saving time, money, and even lives.
According to the MP, the move would also help reduce congestion at major hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, which often handles cases that could be treated locally if Kitui had well-equipped facilities. He insisted that Kitui, being centrally placed in the Lower Eastern region, is well positioned to serve patients from neighboring counties.
Hon. Mbai expressed optimism that President Ruto’s administration will consider the request in line with its commitment to improving healthcare services across the country. He reiterated that empowering regional hospitals is a key step toward achieving universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services for all Kenyans.
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