Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya has been selected to benefit from a donor-funded initiative aimed at improving access to reliable electricity and high-speed internet connectivity in remote health facilities. A total of fifty health facilities in the county have been earmarked for the programme, which targets 150 hospitals across the country that lack reliable electricity and internet connectivity. This initiative is expected to enhance healthcare delivery in the county.
Governor Muthomi Njuki announced that the county is among those selected nationally to benefit from the First Phase of the programme. He was speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Muthambi Sub-county Level IV Hospital’s new Outpatient Department in Maara Constituency. Njuki stated that the initiative would ensure medical equipment, computers, and other essential systems operate efficiently.
The programme will see fifteen health facilities in Maara Constituency connected to electricity and high-speed Starlink internet. The Governor noted that the remaining health facilities in the county would be considered in the Second Phase of the programme, scheduled for 2028. This move is expected to improve healthcare services in the county.
Governor Njuki also outlined plans to upgrade Muthambi Health Centre into a Level IV hospital. The facility will comprise two main blocks, including an operational theatre equipped to support surgical services, medical specialists, and consultants, as well as a maternity wing. This upgrade is expected to improve healthcare services in the area.
The County government, in partnership with Safaricom Foundation, will construct a Mother-and-Child health unit at Muthambi Health Centre at a cost of Sh47 million. The Governor stated that the project would improve access to maternity services and help reduce maternal deaths. Safaricom has already started the tendering process and is expected to complete the project within two weeks.
This is not the first project by Safaricom Foundation in Tharaka Nithi County, as they have previously constructed Mpukoni Hospital. The Governor acknowledged the National Government’s role in implementing major infrastructure projects in the county, citing the ongoing construction of the Nithi Bridge, which will extend over two kilometres.
Governor Njuki further stated that his election as Chairman of the Council of Governors was an opportunity for Tharaka Nithi to attract more development initiatives. He urged residents to support the ongoing efforts to transform the county and cautioned against expecting the Nithi Bridge to be completed hurriedly, noting that its complexity required thorough construction work to guarantee its quality and durability.
Key points
- Tharaka Nithi County to benefit from donor-funded initiative for reliable electricity and high-speed internet connectivity in remote health facilities.
- Fifty health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County to be connected to electricity and high-speed Starlink internet.
- Muthambi Health Centre to be upgraded into a Level IV hospital with an operational theatre and maternity wing.
