Governor Sakaja reports growth in ICU capacity in Nairobi County hospitals

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a major milestone in the city’s healthcare system, revealing that Nairobi’s public hospitals have increased their intensive care unit (ICU) capacity from zero to 46 beds within three years. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Health, Sakaja highlighted that the expansion is part of his administration’s broader agenda to decongest national referral hospitals and enhance access to quality critical care for city residents.
According to the governor, the newly established ICU facilities are distributed across key county hospitals, including 18 beds at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, 10 at Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital, and eight at Mbagathi Hospital. Additionally, construction at Mutuini Hospital is nearing completion, with another 10 ICU beds expected to be ready soon. This marks the first time that Nairobi’s public hospitals are independently offering intensive care services, reducing the historical overreliance on Kenyatta National Hospital for emergency and critical care cases.
Sakaja attributed the progress to a comprehensive health sector review conducted under the leadership of Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, which helped restructure hospital management and streamline operations in Level 5 facilities. He also noted that the county government has revived stalled infrastructure projects, such as a new 120-bed wing at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and a 400-bed expansion at Mutuini Hospital, both designed to improve patient flow and service delivery.
In addition to upgrading hospital facilities, the county has deployed Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across all 17 sub-counties to strengthen preventive healthcare and ensure that residents can access services closer to their homes. Sakaja emphasized that these efforts aim to create a more efficient, equitable, and responsive healthcare system capable of meeting Nairobi’s growing population needs.
While acknowledging the achievements, Sakaja admitted that the journey is far from over. He stated that although 46 ICU beds represent significant progress, the demand for critical care in a city of over seven million people remains high. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure, improving staffing levels, and ensuring consistent medical supplies and equipment maintenance.
The expansion of ICU services in county hospitals is expected to reduce congestion at national referral facilities, improve emergency response times, and enhance Nairobi’s overall healthcare resilience. As the county works to complete ongoing projects, residents can look forward to a more accessible and better-equipped health system that prioritizes their safety and well-being.