The government has set aside Sh29 billion to construct 13 new Level 5 comprehensive county referral hospitals as part of efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare across the country.
The 300-bed facilities are expected to bring critical medical services closer to communities while reducing the number of patients referred to national referral hospitals in Nairobi and other major centres.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the implementation of the projects, which are being undertaken following a directive by President William Ruto.
The proposed hospitals will be established in Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Embu, Migori, Nyamira, Turkana, Baringo, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok and Laikipia counties.
However, the Ministry has listed 13 hospitals but named only 12 counties, leaving the location of the 13th facility yet to be clarified.
Each hospital will have at least 16 Intensive Care Unit beds and 10 High Dependency Unit beds.
They will also be equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment to allow counties to handle complex and critical medical conditions locally.
Duale said the projects were designed to address gaps in specialised healthcare while reducing disparities in access to medical services.
The beneficiary counties were selected based on factors including population size, disease burden, existing health infrastructure and possible financing partnerships involving the government, development partners and the private sector.
The government also plans to incorporate climate-resilient features, including green engineering and solar energy, in the construction of the facilities.
The Sh29 billion investment forms part of a wider government push to expand specialised healthcare and advance Universal Health Coverage.
It will complement other major projects, including the first phase of the 2,000-bed Kiplombe Multi-Specialty Hospital and the proposed Level 6 hospital in Mombasa.
The new hospitals are expected to ease pressure on existing referral facilities by allowing patients to access specialised treatment closer to their homes.
The Ministry said officials will also monitor implementation timelines, coordination between the national and county governments, accountability and progress of the projects.