Uasin Gishu County is planning to spend Sh1.075 billion over five years to expand and modernise Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital in Eldoret, with the aim of making it a centre for specialised maternal and newborn care.
Governor Jonathan Bii announced the investment on Friday while unveiling the hospital’s 2026–2031 strategic and investment plan.
The plan is intended to improve clinical services, strengthen emergency care and referrals, and expand access to maternal and newborn healthcare.
The hospital is a Level 4 specialised maternity facility and is expected to play a larger role in the county’s referral system as the investment is implemented.
“It is within this broader responsibility that Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital has an important role to play,” Bii said. He said the facility would help expand access to specialized maternal and newborn services while strengthening referrals across the county.
The five-year plan focuses on clinical care, emergency preparedness, respectful maternity services, infrastructure and critical care.
Bii said the proposed investment would require careful financial management, partnerships and accountability. He also said the county would need to mobilise resources to ensure the plan is carried out as intended.
The announcement comes as Uasin Gishu faces continued demand for reproductive health services.
More than 53,000 women accessed family planning services in the county between January and June this year, according to county officials.
Bii called for greater attention to postpartum family planning, as well as services targeting adolescents, young people and communities with limited access to healthcare.
County Health Executive Janet Kurgat described the strategy as an important step for the hospital and said it was the first five-year strategic plan launched for a health facility in the county.
She said the plan would guide the hospital’s expansion, service delivery and investment priorities.
The county assembly also backed the proposed investment. Deputy Speaker Sarah Malel said the assembly would consider the required resources through the budgeting process.
If implemented, the plan would see Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital take on a larger role in providing maternal and newborn services in Uasin Gishu and supporting referrals from other health facilities.
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