Kitui Marks Major Healthcare Milestone with Launch of Sh200 Million Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

For many years, residents have struggled with congestion and limited services at Mutitu Level IV Sub-county Hospital, which has only 22 ward beds despite serving a rapidly growing population. Since the advent of devolution, the facility has remained the primary healthcare centre for the area, but inadequate ward capacity, limited medical services and patient overcrowding have posed serious challenges to healthcare delivery.

However, on 14th May 2026, the County Government of Kitui, in partnership with the National Government through the Ministry of Defence, marked a significant milestone in improving healthcare services after officially launching the construction of a modern hospital with a capacity of 94 beds.

The new facility, named after renowned Kenyan constitutional lawyer the late Nzamba Kitonga, is located within Mutitu Market in Mutitu North Sub-county, Kitui East Constituency. The hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare services in the county by focusing on the treatment of respiratory and infectious diseases while also providing specialised isolation units and improved laboratory services.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Principal Secretary for Defence Dr. Patrick Mariru, who was accompanied by Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, said the National Government under President William Ruto had committed to fully financing the construction of the hospital.

Dr. Mariru explained that the County Government of Kitui had initially pledged to contribute Sh50 million towards the project while the National Government would provide Sh150 million. However, President Ruto later directed that the National Government take over the entire Sh200 million cost of construction.“The President of Kenya, Dr William Ruto, offered to fully fund the construction of this hospital alongside other development projects being undertaken in Kitui County by the National Government,” said Dr Mariru.

He noted that the two-storey hospital would be nearly five times larger than the existing Mutitu Sub-county Hospital. The upper floor will accommodate male, female and children’s wards with a total capacity of 94 beds. The facility will also include isolation rooms and a fully equipped laboratory to improve healthcare services for residents.

Dr Mariru further stated that the project is expected to be completed within nine months and directed the contractor to ensure timely delivery of the facility.“We have a responsibility to complete this project on time so that our people can benefit from quality healthcare services. By December, the President should come to officially open a fully equipped hospital. If the contractor fails to meet the required standards and timelines, they will be held accountable because this is a project meant to serve the people of Kitui,” he said.

Governor Malombe said the idea of constructing the hospital was conceived following the death of Nzamba Kitonga in 2020. He described the facility as a landmark healthcare project that symbolises the county’s commitment to strengthening healthcare service delivery.“This project is a major healthcare infrastructure development that reflects our commitment to improving healthcare services and safeguarding the health of our people,” said Dr Malombe.

The governor added that the hospital will serve approximately 80,466 residents from all six wards of Kitui East Constituency, in addition to patients from other parts of the county.“Kitui County is the sixth-largest county in Kenya, with a population of approximately 1.378 million people. About 95 per cent of the population relies on public health facilities for medical services. This hospital will serve residents from across the constituency and will also act as a referral centre for respiratory diseases within the county,” he noted.

Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who once said,“Healthy citizens are the greatest wealth of any nation,” Dr Malombe emphasised that healthcare remains one of the key pillars of his administration in promoting productivity, economic growth and social transformation.

Both the county and national governments remain committed to ensuring that wananchi access affordable, equitable, efficient and quality healthcare services aimed at improving livelihoods across the country.