Mombasa Breaks Ground for Kongowea Level 4 Hospital to Ease Coast General Congestion

Mombasa County has broken ground for the Raila Odinga Hospital in Kongowea, Nyali. The new Level 4 facility will bring specialist healthcare closer to residents. Governor Abdulswamad Nassir says it will also reduce pressure on the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The groundbreaking took place on Monday, April 27, 2026, at the proposed site in Kongowea, Nyali sub-county. Officials named the facility in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kongowea Level 4 Hospital to Offer ICU, Maternity, and Paediatric Services

Governor Nassir outlined the services the hospital will provide. These include an Intensive Care Unit, a paediatric centre, and a maternity wing. As a result, Nyali residents will no longer need to cross the Nyali Bridge to access those services at Coast General.

“Our women will be able to deliver here in Kongowea,” Nassir said. “Our children will have a paediatric centre here in Nyali.”

Meanwhile, the governor announced similar facilities for Port Reitz, Mikindani, and Likoni. He said the expansion aims to decentralise healthcare across Mombasa County and decongest Coast General. In addition, Nassir directed all county hospital administrations to treat patients under the Social Health Authority scheme. He said this will keep out-of-pocket costs low.

Governors Back Early Cancer Screening at the New Facility

Kisii Governor Simba Arati attended the event as ODM Deputy Party Leader. He said the hospital will reduce cancer deaths by enabling early diagnosis close to home.

“Our women will have early detection and we will minimise deaths from cervical cancer and breast cancer,” Arati said.

Furthermore, he urged women and girls to obtain HPV vaccines. He also called on men to seek early prostate cancer testing. Arati argued that proximity to services is the most effective way to cut cancer mortality.

However, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga took a broader view. She attended as ODM Chairperson, representing her brother Dr. Oburu Odinga. She praised the project as part of the fulfilment of Raila Odinga’s Baba Care manifesto commitment to accessible public health.

Senator Faki Raises Devolution Funding Concerns

Mombasa Senator Mwinyihaji Faki said he had previously visited the site with the Senate Health Standing Committee. His team documented the challenges and compiled a report. Consequently, he expressed satisfaction that the county acted on those recommendations.

“Today I am happy the governor noted and implemented those issues,” Faki said.

Nevertheless, the senator used the platform to raise a funding alarm. He called on the governors present to petition the President directly. Faki argued that the current Sh450 billion devolution allocation is too low. He said counties cannot deliver on healthcare, market construction, and Early Childhood Development schools with that budget.

Key Officials Attend Kongowea Level 4 Hospital Groundbreaking

Several senior officials attended the ceremony. These included Deputy Governor Francis Thoya, Kisauni Member of Parliament Rashid Bedzimba, Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed, ODM Mombasa Chairman Mohamed Dee Khamis, and a delegation of Members of County Assembly led by Health Committee Chair Bernard Ogutu and area MCA Samuel Mwaura.