Kirinyaga County is set to revolutionize emergency care system with the construction of a post-
crash trauma center at Sagana Subcounty hospital.
The new cutting-edge facility is being constructed with the aim of providing rapid, life-saving
treatment to accident victims mainly along Murang’a-Sagana, Kenol-marua, Sagana-Kagio-
Kutus and Makutano-Embu highways among others.
The groundbreaking project that is expected to be complete by the end of the current financial
year is a transformative approach to emergency medical care and will improve the survival rate
of trauma victims in the region.
Speaking while on a project assessment tour of the project, the County Executive Committee
Member for health George Karoki said that due to the busy nature of our roads and many
accidents that occur in our busy highways, a faster and more effective emergency response
system has always been a need and that is what this facility has come to address.
He said that the two storey facility will have surgical theaters, dedicated diagnostic imaging
centers equipped with cutting-edge technology all aimed at enabling the fastest possible response
to accident victims.
“This is not just another hospital as it is designed to cater to the specific needs of crash victims,
who currently get referred to other facilities for specialized care” said Karoki noting that its
strategic location along the busy Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriage will enable it respond to
accidents and medical emergencies, providing immediate care cutting time between the accident
and medical intervention that can be the difference between life and death.
He said that the new facility will add to the existing capacity at the Sagana Subcounty hospital
thus raising it to a level 4 hospital, noting that it will have increased bed capacity to around 95
beds, a six ICU bed unit, a six bed HDU, a CT Scan, MRI among other amenities.
He noted that the hospital will also have the required human resource for health in order to offer
comprehensive care to the patients, hailing the good working relationship between the executive,
the assembly and the community in enabling the realization of development projects in the
county.
Governor Anne Waiguru has said that the trauma center, which has been realized through
collaboration between the National and the County Government, is part of the County
Government’s elaborate program of improving healthcare service delivery to all the county
residents. The project is been running along the upgrading of Kimbimbi and Kianyaga hospitals
from level 3 to level 4 facilities and comes just two years after upgrading of Kerugoya County
and Referral Hospital from Level 4 to Level 5.
The county government has also been enhancing primary healthcare through construction and
operationalization of dispensaries across the county, with 13 new ones having been opened with
7 others lined up for opening. Waiguru also thanked the members of the county assembly and the
community for supporting the executive in its development implementation agenda.
Local residents and leaders have hailed the trauma center and are looking forward to its
completion and operationalization. They say that they have witnessed loss of many lives as a
result of accidents along the busy highways especially those involving motorcyclists. They say
the facility will not just be another hospital but will be a lifeline.
Kariti Member of County Assembly, Jeremia Makimi, said that the hospital is very strategic in
catering for accident victims especially along the Kenol-Marua highway, which he said had
claimed 53 victims in the last two years.
He noted that though the dualling of the highway is expected to reduce the number of accidents,
many accidents are still reported especially those involving motor cyclists.
“Many accident victims are given first Aid at the hospital but in case they require specialized
treatment, they have to be referred to Kerugoya Hospital or Nyeri which causes delayed
lifesaving care”, said the MCA.
He thanked Governor Waiguru for the well thought collaboration that has made it possible to
have the trauma center at Sagana Hospital.
Francis Maina, a fruit vendor in Sagana Town said that the area witnesses many motorcycle
accidents with many of them claiming lives thus the emergency center is highly anticipated as a
relief to that challenge.
His sentiments were echoed by Josphat Kibia, a pastor at Born Again Church in Sagana who said
the trauma center will greatly relief the area residents who have been victims of accidents
especially at blackspots such as Kibirigwi and Kiangwaci many of whom risk to lose their lives
as they are being transported for medical care in Kerugoya or Nyeri.
Once complete and operational the center will be setting a new standard for emergency response
in Kirinyaga County and the neighboring counties.
