How Governor Sakaja Johnson Turned Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital into Nairobi’s Sparkling Healthcare Gem -

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Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round for a tale so grand it could only unfold in the bustling heart of Nairobi, where the sun shines bright, the matatus honk louder, and Governor Johnson Sakaja has waved his magic wand over Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, transforming it from a humble healthcare hub into a state-of-the-art medical marvel that’s got everyone from Embakasi to Westlands buzzing with excitement.

Yes, folks, this isn’t just a hospital upgrade but it’s a full-blown glow-up, and we’re here to chuckle our way through this milestone masterpiece!

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Not too long ago, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital was like that reliable but slightly creaky matatu you’d hop into, hoping it gets you to your destination without too many hiccups. Patients streamed in, staff did their best, but the place was, let’s say, vibing on limited resources. Enter Governor Sakaja, Nairobi’s very own healthcare superhero, swooping in with a stethoscope in one hand and a vision in the other. “Lazima iWork!” he declared (probably while striking a dramatic pose), and work it did.

First up, Sakaja decided it was time to give Mama Lucy a facelift that would make even the flashiest Nairobi nightclub jealous. In March 2023, he unveiled the first-ever Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a Nairobi County hospital, a four-bed beauty that had everyone whispering, “Is this really a public hospital?”. Not stopping there, he threw in a Renal Unit, a Blood Bank, and, wait for it, a children’s playground! Because nothing says “world-class healthcare” like a slide and swings for the kids while their parents get top-notch treatment.

Sakaja’s team, led by the hospital CEO Dr Wafula Martin, somehow pulled this off without raiding Fort Knox, proving that creativity and commitment can stretch a shilling further than a Nairobi traffic jam stretches your patience.

But the real comedy gold came when Sakaja decided to tackle the hospital’s reputation. Back in 2023, Mama Lucy had a bit of a Public Relations nightmare when a viral video showed an expectant mother being mishandled. Kenyans on X space were not amused, and the outrage was louder than a hawker’s megaphone at Dandora market. Sakaja, however, didn’t just sit there sipping tea. He swooped in, disbanded the entire hospital board and appointed a new crew led by Dorcas Kemunto, with the mandate to treat patients with the dignity of a five-star hotel guest.

By May 2023, he was inaugurating new board members for Mama Lucy and other hospitals, challenging them to make service delivery so smooth it’d rival a Sunday drive along Thika Road (minus the potholes).

Fast forward to 2024, and Mama Lucy was hitting milestones like a matatu driver hitting every green light on Jogoo Road. The hospital reported zero maternal deaths for four months straight, a feat CEO Dr. Martin Wafula credited to Sakaja’s modernization magic.

Then came the bronchoscopy milestone in June 2024; Mama Lucy was now scoping lungs like a sci-fi movie, making it the go-to spot for respiratory care in Eastlands. And just when you thought the governor had run out of plan, he opened the Mama Lucy Kibaki Eye Hospital in Umoja II, a fully equipped public eye facility with double theaters and a 28-bed ward. Suddenly, Nairobians weren’t just seeing better,they were seeing Sakaja’s vision in 20/20.

By October 2024, a new wing was under construction to handle the patient surge, because apparently, Mama Lucy was now so popular it needed extra seats like a blockbuster movie premiere. The hospital was serving 3,000 patients a day, delivering 70 babies, and performing 50 surgeries daily, all while shrugging off claims of chaos.

When media reports suggested women were sharing beds in the maternity ward, Mama Lucy’s team clapped back faster than a Nairobi tout collecting fare, insisting they were delivering “life-saving care” with the finesse of a seasoned stand-up act.

Now, let’s not pretend it’s all been smooth sailing. Some naysayers on X and in the County Assembly have grumbled about delays and funding hiccups, pointing out that the transition from the Nairobi Metropolitan Services left some projects stuck .But Sakaja, ever the optimist, keeps pushing forward, promising to make Mama Lucy and other hospitals like Mbagathi and Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital shine brighter than a freshly polished tuk-tuk. He’s even got plans to rename Mutuini Hospital after Mama Rachel Ruto, because why not give Nairobi’s hospitals a first-lady-themed makeover?

So here we are, in 2025, marveling at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, now a gleaming beacon of healthcare excellence.

Thanks to Sakaja’s relentless drive, it’s gone from a struggling facility to a place where patients walk in expecting a hospital and walk out feeling like they’ve visited a futuristic wellness spa. The governor’s mantra, “Lazima iWork,” has become the heartbeat of Nairobi’s healthcare transformation, and Mama Lucy is the punchline that keeps on delivering.

As one X user put it, Sakaja’s investments are “restoring confidence in public healthcare” and if that’s not a standing ovation-worthy milestone, I don’t know what is.

In conclusion, Governor Johnson Sakaja has turned Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital into a healthcare comedy show where the jokes are on inefficiency, and the laughs come from lives saved and services improved. So, next time you’re in Eastlands, swing by Mama Lucy, not just for a check-up, but to witness a hospital so state-of-the-art it might just prescribe you a dose of hope with a side of humor. Bravo, Governor, bravo!