The ongoing expansion and modernization of Wajir County Referral Hospital has been hailed as a major milestone in improving healthcare services in Northern Kenya, amid growing calls to strengthen access to quality medical care in historically marginalized regions.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo says the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery and advancing Universal Health Coverage through collaboration between the National and County governments.
Speaking after inspecting the project, Dr. Omollo dismissed claims circulating online that little development was taking place in Northern Kenya, saying leaders in the region were working steadily to transform critical sectors including healthcare infrastructure.
The hospital, originally constructed in 1944 by Italian prisoners of war during World War II, is now undergoing a large-scale upgrade aimed at transforming it into a Level 5 specialized medical facility.
The expansion, spearheaded by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, is expected to reduce costly referrals of patients to hospitals in Garissa and Nairobi by offering specialized treatment services within the county.
According to Dr. Omollo, the new multi-storey Accident and Emergency wing will significantly improve emergency response and inpatient care. The ground floor will host outpatient and emergency services including triage units, consultation rooms, laboratories, pharmacy services and ECG facilities.
The first floor will accommodate a 48-bed inpatient ward for both male and female patients, alongside private amenity rooms, while the second floor will feature a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit, a 12-bed High Dependency Unit and three modern operating theatres equipped with advanced laminar flow technology.
The facility will also include an industrial-grade purification plant capable of producing 2,000 litres of medical-grade water per hour.
Dr. Omollo noted that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration would continue supporting strategic public infrastructure projects by ensuring a secure environment for implementation and uninterrupted service delivery.
He described the hospital project as a transformative investment that could reshape healthcare access and boost public confidence in medical services across Northern Kenya.
