Recently, Nakuru County admitted to a critical shortage of ICU beds at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital (PGH), a situation that tragically contributed to the death of a mother, Elizabeth Wairimu, just hours after childbirth.

The incident has once again raised concerns about the closure of Nakuru War Memorial Hospital in January 2024.

Though a private facility, War Memorial had long operated as an ‘unofficial’ support system for PGH, especially for specialized services like intensive care.

A court order in October 2024 directed its reopening, but to date, the facility remains closed.

Mtaa Wangu reached out to Ms. Patriciah Musale, the Matron at the now-defunct War Memorial Hospital, to understand what the county lost when it closed those gates.

Musale emphasized that the War Memorial was indeed a fall back for PGH — especially during high-pressure situations like mass road accidents.

Matron at Nakuru war memorial hospital Patricia Njeri during an interview on January 24, 2024.

Photo credit: FILE

“We used to receive so many of their patients, especially in ICU. Whenever PGH was overwhelmed, they would call us to request space. The referrals were frequent — we helped ease their burden, particularly for specialized care. All that ended the moment the hospital was closed,” she says.

Ms Musale weighs in on the recent case at PGH with frustration.

“No mother should die while giving birth. It's painful. For that to happen, there must have been warning signs and symptoms that something wasn’t right. The medics had a window to act, and they could have sought an alternative ICU or care option. If their ICU was full, why didn’t they inform the family immediately? Why wasn’t there a plan B?” she questions.

She notes the first step should have been communication.

“Tell the relatives- ‘Things aren’t okay, we need ICU care, but we don’t have an ICU, can we look elsewhere?’ That’s how a hospital should operate. I believe there are other facilities with ICUs. Something here just isn’t adding up,” she says.

The delay in reopening the War Memorial, the lack of coordination in critical care referrals, and the county’s slow action on life-saving infrastructure have drawn renewed attention to the fragility of Nakuru’s health system.

With one less operational ICU facility, the burden continues to fall on PGH, leaving healthcare workers overstretched and patients at greater risk during emergencies.

How war memorial hospital incurs losses worth Sh 36million monthly, in dormant state

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Leleti Jassor