Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi (Samburu) has raised alarm over the alleged collapse of renal unit services at Samburu County Teaching and Referral Hospital, citing serious challenges affecting the delivery of life saving dialysis treatment to patients in the county.
Rising pursuant to Standing Order 53(1), the Senator sought a Statement from the Senate Committee on Health regarding urgent measures being taken to restore renal services at the hospital, which remains the only dialysis facility serving the entire county.
Sen. Lelegwe informed the House that the renal unit is operating under severe strain, with only five dialysis machines currently available. Of these, one machine is reserved for isolation cases, leaving only four machines to serve approximately 20 patients who require dialysis treatment twice every week.
The Senator further noted that the county has lacked a qualified nephrologist since September 2025, forcing patients to seek specialized treatment outside Samburu County. The situation has been worsened by shortages of renal supplies, delayed servicing of dialysis equipment and inadequate budgetary support all of which continue to undermine the delivery of critical renal care.
“As a result, patients have been referred outside the county for treatment, while shortages of supplies, delayed servicing of equipment, and inadequate budgetary support continue to undermine the delivery of life-saving renal care,” he stated, while calling for urgent and emergency interventions by the county government to restore full operations at the renal unit and safeguard the lives of patients who depend on dialysis for survival.
In his request for a Statement, Sen. Lelegwe asked the Committee to provide detailed information on the number, condition, age and functional status of dialysis machines at the hospital including explanations as to why some machines have exceeded their operational lifespan without replacement and the plans in place to urgently procure new equipment.
Additionally, the Senator requested the Committee to establish the status of payments owed to contractors responsible for servicing and maintaining dialysis equipment from 2023 to date and explain why the county has operated without a qualified nephrologist since September 2025, outlining steps being taken to ensure the provision of specialist renal care services.
The Committee, chaired by Sen. Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) is further required to provide an update on the supply and availability of renal consumables and related medical items including budgetary allocations for the renal unit and measures to ensure patients are not forced to bear costs that should be covered under the Social Health Insurance system. It is also expected to outline measures being implemented to strengthen renal health services in Samburu County on a sustainable basis and prevent a future collapse of the renal unit.
By Anthony Solly
