By Mumo Judah
Wajir, Kenya, June 1, 2026
President William Ruto on Monday officially commissioned the new Accident and Emergency Building at Wajir County Teaching and Referral Hospital, unveiling what officials described as one of the most advanced public healthcare facilities in Northern Kenya.
The launch formed part of the President’s development tour of the region and coincided with the historic 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations being hosted in Wajir County for the first time since Kenya attained self-rule.
The ultra-modern facility significantly expands the hospital’s capacity and strengthens emergency and specialized healthcare services in the region. The new building features a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a High Dependency Unit (HDU), providing critical care services that were previously limited within the county.
The facility also houses three fully equipped operating theatres, including the largest surgical theatre in the region. The theatre is fitted with advanced endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment, enabling minimally invasive surgical procedures and reducing the need for patients to seek specialized treatment outside the county.
In a first for a public health facility in the area, the building incorporates a lamina flow air conditioning system designed to filter air multiple times to eliminate contaminants and maintain sterile conditions in critical medical spaces.
The emergency wing has been equipped with a dedicated ambulance entrance, a resuscitation unit, an acute care room and an isolation facility for the management of highly infectious diseases, significantly enhancing the hospital’s emergency preparedness capacity.
The two-storey structure further expands inpatient services through 48-bed wards, with each bed connected to dedicated oxygen ports. Hospital administrators say the facility will improve patient outcomes and reduce pressure on existing wards.
Additional features include a centralized medical gas control system with automated monitoring alarms, a network of 46 security cameras, a digital server room supporting paperless medical records and specialized dumbwaiter lifts for the movement of medical supplies, instruments and linen between floors.
The commissioning marks a major milestone in the growth of healthcare services under devolution in Wajir County. County officials noted that since the transfer of healthcare functions to county governments, the region has experienced significant expansion in medical infrastructure and personnel.
According to county records, the number of operational health facilities in Wajir has increased from 65 to 174, while the county has grown from having no specialized medical consultants to employing 20 specialists across various fields.
Hospital management also announced that while surgical and general medical services will be transferred to the new emergency and critical care complex, the existing hospital buildings will be repurposed to expand pediatric and maternity services.
The new facility is expected to reduce referrals to hospitals outside the county and improve access to specialized healthcare for residents of Wajir and neighboring counties, strengthening the region’s capacity to respond to medical emergencies and complex health conditions.
President Ruto said the investment reflects the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access and ensuring that residents in historically underserved regions receive quality medical services closer to home.
