Murang'a: Murang'a County has marked a major milestone in its healthcare agenda after governor Irungu Kang'ata officially launched the newly renovated Gitugi Health Centre in Mathioya Sub-County. The renovation works of the facility were undertaken through a partnership between the Murang'a county government and the government of Finland. The refurbished health centre has been fitted with modern equipment and expanded capacity to handle outpatient services, maternal and child healthcare, and minor emergencies.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking when launching the health centre, Kang'ata said the facility is part of his administration's broader plan to take essential services closer to the people. 'This project is part of our wider mission to ensure no family in Murang'a is forced to travel long distances for basic health services. By upgrading Gitugi Health Centre, we are making health accessible, affordable, and reliable to the people of Mathioya,' said the governor. He added that the county was not only investing in infrastructure but also in human resources, pledging to deploy additional nurses to the facility to strengthen service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Stephen Munania, present at the event, highlighted the broader progress the county has made in expanding healthcare services. He revealed that the county government has constructed and operationalised a total of 38 health centres, including the newly refurbished Gitugi Health Centre. 'Today, Gitugi joins 37 other facilities that we have built and upgraded. Our vision is that every ward in Murang'a has a well-equipped health centre capable of handling primary care and emergencies. We are proud to say we are well on track,' said the Deputy Governor. Furthermore, he assured residents that the county would continue to prioritize health investments, including recruitment of medical staff and digitalisation of services.
Gitugi Ward MCA, Edwin Wairagu, lauded the county administration for delivering on a long-standing promise to the people. He said the upgraded facility will ease the burden on families who previously had to travel to Murang'a town for treatment. 'This health centre is a big relief for Gitugi residents. For a long time, we needed better services, and now our people can get treatment close to home,' said Wairagu. He urged residents to take advantage of the improved health centre and participate actively in community health programmes.
The upgrade of Gitugi Health Centre is also part of Murang'a strategic plan to reduce congestion in referral hospitals. The county plans to enhance maternal health, improve treatment access and strengthen preventive care services by equipping local centres with primary healthcare facilities, which will be integrated into the county's digital health system.