By Michelle Ndaga
The government is in the final stages of completing the East African Kidney Institute (EAKI) in Nairobi, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s pursuit of accessible and specialized healthcare.
Situated next to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the ultra-modern facility will be the region’s first Centre of Excellence for kidney and urology care.
It will feature 160 beds, including 10 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, 9 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, and 28 dialysis machines.
The institute will offer advanced treatment such as kidney transplants and serve as a training and research hub under the University of Nairobi, nurturing future specialists in nephrology and urology.
During an inspection visit earlier today, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, lauded the project’s steady progress and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring its timely completion.
He noted that President William Ruto is personally keen on fast-tracking the facility’s commissioning, recognizing its vital role in easing pressure on KNH and expanding access to life-saving kidney care.
The East African Kidney Institute is part of the East African Community (EAC) initiative to strengthen regional healthcare systems through specialized centres of excellence.
Once operational, it will provide referral, research, and training services for patients and health professionals across East Africa.
EAKI stands as a transformative step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) making quality, specialized healthcare accessible to all. For thousands of kidney patients across the region, long deprived of affordable and advanced treatment, hope is finally within reach.
