Murang'a County Governor Irungu Kang'ata has raised an alarm over the overwhelming number of patients seeking services at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, calling for urgent interventions to manage the surge.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 7, the county government revealed that the facility is now attending to between 1,500 and 2,000 outpatients daily, while those admitted stand at 500.
The development comes following the recent expansion of Murang'a County hospitals' infrastructure, which has seen a significant increase in client numbers over the past few months.
According to the statement, the surge in patient numbers is compounded by an influx of clients from neighboring counties seeking specialized services at the Level 5 facility.
"The hospital is attending to 1500 to 2000 outpatients clients daily, while those admitted are 500, which is equal to the established bed capacity. This is compounded by the influx of patients from elsewhere," the statement read.
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The county acknowledged that while the expansion was meant to improve service delivery, the unexpected volume of patients has stretched resources and infrastructure to their limits.
To address the huge demand for health services and ensure good clinical outcomes, the county government has outlined several urgent measures that are being implemented immediately.
The county will beef up emergency staff at the casualty department to handle the growing number of emergency cases.
Healthcare workers who are currently on leave are being recalled to help manage the patient load and provide additional support across various departments.
To improve patient flow and reduce confusion within the facility, the county will deploy marshalls to guide clients on movement to various points of care.
The hospital will also activate additional wards to accommodate more patients and ease the pressure on existing spaces.
In a bid to redistribute patients and reduce congestion at the referral hospital, the county is establishing linkages with other county level 4 hospitals to uptake some patients. This move is expected to ease pressure on the main facility while ensuring patients still receive quality care at nearby facilities.
The county has committed to ensuring that laboratory and radiology services are manned 24 hours to speed up diagnostic processes and improve turnaround times for critical tests.
Governor Kang'ata revealed that the county intends to recruit new staff, though he noted this will be limited due to constrained revenue resources. Additionally, the county has requested the assembly to fast-track a Locum policy that can help assuage such emergencies by allowing temporary staff deployment during peak periods.
In response to the overwhelming numbers, the county has advised patients to consider utilizing neighboring healthcare facilities that have been upgraded with additional capacity.
"We advise patients to consider neighbouring facilities, including Muriranjas Hospital Mugoin, which now has additional doctors, new Mukuyu, and Kiangage dispensaries in township wards Kiharu Constituency," the statement noted.
The surge in patient numbers comes months after Murang'a County officially commissioned a new Mother and Child Unit at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital, boosting the facility's bed capacity from 285 to over 400.
The development, unveiled by Governor Kang'ata in July 2025, was expected to reduce congestion and improve inpatient care across the hospital.
The expansion included a modern casualty department, specialist outpatient clinics, a fully equipped laboratory, pharmacy, radiology services, and two operating theatres.
At the time of commissioning, Governor Kang'ata said the expansion would significantly cut surgical waiting times, particularly for expectant women and other emergency cases.
"This is a historic moment for the county. This new wing will not only ease congestion but will also improve access to quality and timely medical care for the people of Murang'a," he said during the launch.
