Kijabe, Kenya -On a quiet Wednesday morning in the Rift Valley hills, Dr Ouma Oluga stepped back into the hospital that shaped him.
“Kijabe taught me everything,” he said softly, as he addressed a small crowd gathered for AIC Kijabe Hospital’s 110th anniversary celebration.
Now Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr Oluga began his career as a young doctor at this very hospital. His return wasn’t just ceremonial it was deeply personal.
“I started here. The people I met, the cases I saw, the values I learnt they stayed with me,” he told the audience, which included health workers, community leaders, and trainee doctors.
Faith and Healing in Tandem
Faith-based hospitals like Kijabe, Dr Oluga said, are more than just treatment centres.
“They are sanctuaries of hope,” he said. “Places where compassion meets competence.”
In a country where public health services often stretch thin, institutions like Kijabe—run by the Africa Inland Church continue to provide vital care, especially in rural areas.
Dr Oluga praised their commitment to “people-centred” care and urged the next generation of health workers to serve with discipline, love, and a sense of calling.
“If you love your work, apply discipline, and commit to excellence, there is no limit to where you can serve,” he said, addressing a group of young intern doctors who had gathered to greet him.
He paused for a photo with them a moment both symbolic and intimate, a reminder that every experienced physician was once a student.
Backed by Faith, Supported by State
The anniversary celebration came just days after the AIC Archbishop confirmed that the new Social Health Authority (SHA) is up and running. The SHA aims to improve health financing nationwide.
Dr Oluga’s visit signalled the government’s support for partnerships with faith-based health providers. It also underscored the importance of keeping such facilities financially sustainable especially those offering specialised treatments like cancer care and orthopaedics.
“These hospitals are often the first and only point of care for many Kenyans,” said Dr Oluga. “They need the resources and recognition to keep going.”
AIC Kijabe Hospital has long been known for its surgical excellence and outreach beyond its walls. With support from donors and partnerships, it has built a reputation for high-quality care, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Looking Ahead
For the interns who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Principal Secretary, the day carried both inspiration and weight. Many will return to underfunded clinics or crowded emergency rooms. But they left with a reminder of what’s possible when medicine is practised with heart.
And for Kijabe itself, the anniversary was a quiet nod to its past and a promise to continue serving those who need it most.
“We celebrate not just years,” said a hospital official, “but lives changed, hope restored, and a legacy that goes beyond medicine.”
As the crowd dispersed and the hills settled into evening light, Dr Oluga walked slowly down the familiar corridors. The building had changed. But the mission, he said, had not.
