Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (second left) and President William Ruto inspecting the Sh200m expansion at Kenneth Matiba hospital in Murang'a on April 25, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA

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President William Ruto has inspected the construction of a Sh200 million trauma centre along the Thika–Kenol dual carriageway, a project aimed at improving emergency response to frequent road accidents along the busy highway.

The three-storeyed facility is being developed at Kenneth Matiba Hospital, which was built by the Murang’a County Government two years ago on 1,300 acres of land ceded by Del Monte Kenya.

The project, currently being overseen by the Kenya Defence Forces, began in June last year and will include wards with a capacity to accommodate 110 inpatients.

“This project was a county government project, but they requested our support, so we stepped in because there are no county or national government people,” said Ruto.

Once complete, the ground floor will house a minor theatre, a resuscitation area and an outpatient wing.

The first floor will accommodate the main theatre and a 50-bed critical care ward, while the third floor will host a 60-bed surgical ward.

During the visit, the President also launched the construction of the 1,910-unit Gatanga Affordable Housing Project, a nine-storey development expected to be the largest in the region.

The housing project is designed to serve workers in the nearby Special Economic Zone and absorb spillover demand from Thika town.

President William Ruto with Governor Irungu Kang'ata at Kenneth Matiba hospital in Murang'a on April 25, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA

Ruto said the government is investing Sh20 billion to construct 6,800 affordable housing units across Murang’a county, to enhance access to decent and affordable homes.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone for the 165-unit Kiharu Affordable Housing Project in Murang’a town. Additionally, 220 units under the Makenji Affordable Housing Project along the Thika–Kenol highway are nearing completion.

 The Sh490 million development comprises 60 studio units, 100 two-bedroom units and 60 three-bedroom units.

The President also highlighted ongoing plans to establish a County Aggregation and Industrial Park alongside an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the area through a partnership between the national and county governments.

The industrial hub is expected to host the Murang’a MedCity, as well as light, medium and heavy industries, a technology and innovation hub, a commercial centre and a modern market.

Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata welcomed the projects, describing them as critical to the county’s economic transformation. However, he called for additional support to expand key infrastructure to sustain industrial growth.

“These are the best investments that can safeguard the future of Murang’a people, but the utilities are too expensive,” he said.