A major health scare has hit Kirinyaga County after six dialysis machines at Kerugoya General Hospital broke down, leaving kidney patients stranded and desperate for treatment. With only two machines still running, patients are forced to cut life-saving sessions short or seek expensive alternatives in private facilities.
Highlights:
- Six out of eight dialysis machines at Kerugoya Hospital have failed.
- Patients are receiving shorter sessions, far below the recommended four hours.
- Many have been forced into costly private clinics or sold assets to survive.
- Leaders and families are demanding urgent intervention.
- Governor Anne Waiguru says new machines will arrive through a national programme.
Main Story:
Machines Break Down
Kerugoya General Hospital, the county’s main referral facility, is struggling to provide kidney treatment after six of its eight dialysis machines broke down in the last five months. This has created a severe shortage, forcing patients to share the two remaining machines.
Patients in Distress
Some patients now undergo dialysis for just two hours instead of the standard four, leaving them weak and unwell. Seventy-six-year-old Beatrice Mureithi, who now travels to Mount Kenya Hospital, says the shorter sessions have worsened her health. Another patient, Amos Wanjau, is suffering swelling and painful wounds due to incomplete treatment.
Financial Strain on Families
With limited public options, patients are turning to private hospitals, where costs are significantly higher. Many families have been pushed to sell personal belongings to cover the bills, sparking anger and frustration.
Kirinyaga Senator has demanded urgent repairs or replacements, calling the situation unacceptable for patients who depend on dialysis to survive. Families have also raised questions about accountability in the county’s health system.
Governor Anne Waiguru has defended her administration, stating that the dialysis machines are supplied under the national government’s Equipment Support Programme (NESP). She assured residents that new machines will be delivered to Kerugoya Hospital by Wednesday.
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For Kirinyaga’s kidney patients, every dialysis session is a lifeline yet the failing machines now raise a painful question: how long can they wait for help to arrive?
