Tenwek Hospital’s New Sh4.5B Heart Centre Set for Presidential Launch

President William Ruto is set to inaugurate the Billy Graham Memorial Cardiothoracic Centre at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County on Thursday.

The state-of-the-art facility, constructed at Sh4.5 billion with support from American donors, represents a major milestone in the region’s medical capabilities. The comprehensive facility includes 176 beds and features sophisticated medical infrastructure, including six major operating theatres and 52 intensive care units. A post-anaesthesia care centre complements these facilities, positioning the centre as a premier cardiac care institution.

Named in honour of the prominent American evangelist Billy Graham, the centre aims to address the mounting challenges of cardiovascular diseases across East Africa. The Ministry of Health reports that heart-related ailments affect approximately 150,000 Kenyans, contributing to the broader African burden of 35 million cases. Rheumatic heart disease poses a particular challenge, with numerous children being born with this condition annually.

Tenwek Hospital has already established itself as a leading cardiac care provider, having conducted over 2,000 heart surgeries since 2008, but the growing demand necessitated this significant expansion. The cardiothoracic centre’s inauguration follows the recent launch of the hospital’s Sh130 million accident and emergency facility. This modern emergency centre, equipped with cutting-edge technology, has substantially enhanced the hospital’s capacity to handle trauma cases and urgent medical situations, accommodating over 250 emergency cases.

Looking ahead, the new cardiothoracic facility aims to perform 2,000 major heart and chest surgeries annually, while also providing extensive endoscopy and cauterization services. As a regional referral centre, Tenwek Hospital aims to serve patients from across East Africa in a bid to maintain its commitment to delivering accessible and affordable healthcare services.