President William Ruto has laid the foundation stone for a new mother and baby hospital in Bomet County, marking the beginning of a Sh4.5 billion initiative by Amsons Group to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare in Kenya.
Ruto laid the foundation stone for the Chebunyo Amsons Mother and Baby Hospital in Chepalungu on Saturday, September 12, marking the start of the first project under Amsons Group’s Mama na Mtoto Kwanza Initiative.
The initiative will see Amsons Group commit US$35 million, approximately Sh4.5 billion, towards the development of 10 modern mother and baby hospitals across Kenya over the next two years.
The projects will be undertaken in partnership with the National Government and participating county governments as part of efforts to bring specialised maternal and newborn healthcare closer to communities.
Speaking during the ceremony, Ruto welcomed the partnership, highlighting the need to expand access to quality healthcare for mothers and newborns.
The President said maternal mortality remains a challenge in Kenya and stressed the importance of cooperation between the Government, private sector and development partners in addressing gaps in maternal and neonatal healthcare.
The Chebunyo hospital is planned as a Level 4 facility with a capacity of between 200 and 250 beds.
It will offer antenatal care, labour and delivery services, maternity and obstetric intensive care, postnatal services and newborn and neonatal intensive care.
The facility will also have dedicated maternity and neonatal theatres, an isolation unit, pharmacy services and a mothers’ hostel.
Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi said the company was committed to ensuring the Mama na Mtoto Kwanza programme delivers a lasting impact on communities.
“For Amsons, this is much more than an infrastructure project. It is an investment in mothers, children, families and the future of communities across Kenya. Through Mama na Mtoto Kwanza, we want to make a tangible contribution towards ensuring that mothers can give birth safely and that every child has the opportunity for a healthy start in life,” Nahdi said.
Construction of the Chebunyo facility is expected to take six months, with commissioning targeted for March 2027.
Once completed, the hospital is expected to increase access to specialised maternal and neonatal services in Bomet and surrounding areas.
The Chebunyo project is the first of 10 hospitals planned under the Mama na Mtoto Kwanza Initiative.
Amsons Group said the programme would complement government efforts to strengthen Universal Health Coverage by expanding access to specialised healthcare services closer to communities.
The initiative will involve the company, the National Government, county governments and healthcare stakeholders in the development of the facilities.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony was attended by senior national and county government officials, Amsons Group executives, healthcare stakeholders, elected leaders, community representatives and residents of Bomet County.
Amsons Group thanked the Government of Kenya, the Ministry of Health, Bomet County Government and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
The company also thanked residents of Chebunyo and the wider Bomet community for supporting the project.
