New Maternity Wing Brings Relief to Overcrowded Hospitals

Health systems in several Kenyan counties are receiving a crucial boost as new maternity wings are inaugurated to ease severe overcrowding in public hospitals. In Marsabit County, officials have opened a 28‑bed wing at Laisamis Hospital, complete with a neonatal unit, surgical theatre, and reliable power supply to ensure safe deliveries—even during blackouts. Meanwhile, Kakamega County has broken ground on a Sh 90 million, 60‑bed maternity wing at Likuyani Level IV Hospital under its Tutunze Kakamega programme, designed with a labor ward, theater, antenatal and postnatal units, a neonatal unit, and a kangaroo mother care room.
In a related development, Nandi County has officially commissioned a modern maternity wing at Kabiyet Sub‑County Hospital, inaugurated by the British High Commissioner. Equipped with incubators, respirators, and dedicated delivery and antenatal wards, the facility is expected to significantly reduce maternal‑ward congestion and make childbirth safer for women in the region. And in Nairobi, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital has started construction on a 53‑bed newborn unit to decongest the overburdened Pumwani Maternal Hospital, which currently handles an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 deliveries annually.
Health leaders and mothers alike have welcomed these expansions as a transformative step in maternal care. County Governors and hospital directors say the new units will not only reduce the risks associated with overcrowded wards but also improve access to life-saving, dignified care for mothers and newborns. By strengthening infrastructure and investing in maternal health, these counties are laying a foundation for safer childbirth and better health outcomes across the board.