Written by Ruth Magak
For close to four decades, the theatre at Bondeni Maternity stood as a silent symbol of stalled potential. Built in 1985, the facility never once hosted a surgical procedure. Bottlenecks, both real and perceived, consigned the theatre to disuse, leaving generations of mothers without access to life-saving obstetric interventions at the hospital.
That history was rewritten today under the leadership of H.E. Governor Susan Kihika, when Bondeni Maternity, now upgraded to a Sub-County Referral Hospital (Level 4), successfully conducted its first-ever Cesarean Section. The milestone marks not just a medical breakthrough, but a powerful testament to the Governor’s commitment to transforming healthcare and fulfilling promises made to the people of Nakuru.
“This is a historic day for Nakuru. We are witnessing the fruit of bold leadership, political goodwill, and strategic investments in health infrastructure,” said Roselyn Mungai, County Executive Committee Member for Health.
From the onset of her administration, Governor Kihika placed maternal, newborn, and child health at the centre of her manifesto. She pledged to end long-standing gaps in service delivery by ensuring that facilities closer to communities were fully equipped and staffed to provide comprehensive care.
Bondeni Maternity, one of the busiest urban maternal facilities in Nakuru, was a natural priority. With her administration’s support, the hospital was upgraded, staffing strengthened, and the long-dormant theatre finally operationalised. “The Governor made a promise, and today, the mothers of Nakuru are seeing it fulfilled,” added Ms. Mungai.
Chief Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist Dr. John Murima, who also serves as the Chief Officer for Medical Services in Governor Susan Kihika’s administration, supported by a skilled team of nurses, anaesthetists, and theatre staff, performed the groundbreaking surgery. The procedure was smooth and successful, with both mother and baby reported to be in stable condition.
For the attending staff, this was more than a medical intervention; it was a moment charged with emotion and pride. “We knew we were part of history,” Dr. Murima said. “To conduct the first C-section in a theatre that has stood idle for 40 years is something we will carry with us forever.”
The successful surgery now sets the pace for Bondeni Maternity to become a hub of comprehensive maternal healthcare services. With the theatre finally in use, expectant mothers in Nakuru will no longer have to be referred long distances for emergency interventions, reducing delays and saving lives. This will also ease the workload from the main County Referral Hospital, which conducts over 1200 deliveries per month.
The milestone at Bondeni Maternity is one among many achievements that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration has rolled out across Nakuru’s health sector. From equipping facilities with modern technology and ensuring the availability of essential medicines to deploying additional health workers and strengthening community outreach, the Governor has made healthcare a pillar of her leadership.
Her focus on equity, ensuring both rural and urban communities have access to quality service, has earned her administration recognition as a model for county-led healthcare transformation.
As Bondeni Maternity writes this new chapter, the broader story is one of political will meeting professional excellence. Governor Susan Kihika’s leadership has not only brought a dormant theatre back to life but has also restored public confidence in public health institutions.
For the families who will now benefit from life-saving surgeries at Bondeni, the moment is deeply personal. For the county, it is a resounding achievement in service delivery.
After 40 years of waiting, a theatre once silent has roared back to life, under the watch of a Governor determined to keep her word.