A new trauma centre is set to redefine emergency healthcare in Kirinyaga County, with construction underway at Sagana Subcounty Hospital.

Designed to provide rapid, life-saving care to accident victims, the facility is expected to ease the burden on referral hospitals and improve survival rates for patients requiring urgent medical attention.

The high-traffic highways crisscrossing Kirinyaga—Murang’a-Sagana, Kenol-Marua, Sagana-Kagio-Kutus, and Makutano-Embu—have long been accident hotspots, with victims often facing delays in accessing specialised treatment.

The upcoming trauma centre, strategically positioned along the Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriageway, aims to bridge this gap by offering immediate medical interventions.

While inspecting the construction progress, County Executive Committee Member for Health George Karoki underscored the urgency of the project, citing the rising number of road accidents.

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“This is not just another hospital as it is designed to cater to the specific needs of crash victims, who currently get referred to other facilities for specialised care,” he said.

The two-storey facility will be equipped with modern surgical theatres, advanced diagnostic imaging technology, and an expanded bed capacity to accommodate critical patients.

The trauma centre will upgrade Sagana Subcounty Hospital to a Level 4 facility, increasing its capacity to 95 beds and introducing six intensive care unit (ICU) beds and six high-dependency unit (HDU) beds.

It will also house essential diagnostic services such as MRI and CT scans.

Karoki lauded the cooperation between county leaders and residents in driving healthcare improvements, noting that the hospital will be staffed with skilled medical personnel to provide round-the-clock emergency care.

Governor Anne Waiguru described the trauma centre as a product of collaboration between the National and County Governments, forming part of a broader healthcare expansion strategy.

According to Waiguru, the project has been realised through collaboration between the National and the County Government,.

The initiative runs alongside the ongoing upgrade of Kimbimbi and Kianyaga hospitals to Level 4 status, complementing the recent elevation of Kerugoya County and Referral Hospital to a Level 5 facility.

Additionally, 13 new dispensaries have been opened across the county, with seven more set to become operational soon.

Residents and local leaders have welcomed the project, expressing hope that it will prevent avoidable deaths caused by delayed medical care.

Kariti MCA Jeremia Makimi noted that 53 people had lost their lives along the Kenol-Marua highway in the past two years

. “Many accident victims are given first aid at the hospital but in case they require specialised treatment, they have to be referred to Kerugoya Hospital or Nyeri, which causes delayed lifesaving care,” he said.

For Sagana residents, the trauma centre represents more than just a hospital—it is a long-awaited solution to a crisis that has cost countless lives.

Francis Maina, a fruit vendor in the town, observed that motorcycle accidents are frequent in the area, making the facility a much-needed intervention.

His sentiments were echoed by Pastor Josphat Kibia of Born Again Church in Sagana, who highlighted the danger of blackspots such as Kibirigwi and Kiangwaci, where many victims do not survive the journey to distant hospitals.

Once operational, the trauma centre will set a new benchmark for emergency healthcare in Kirinyaga, offering a lifeline to accident victims and easing pressure on overstretched referral facilities.