Waiguru explains why some Kerugoya dialysis machines are not working
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 11, 2025Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru has dismissed claims that dialysis machines at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital are not working, saying the centre remains fully operational.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Waiguru explained that the original dialysis machines, provided by the national government in 2017, had reached their usage limits after serving thousands of patients.
“Most of our machines, there were six, four of them passed the 10,000-hour mark, and so we stopped using them. It is not that they’re broken down; we stopped using them because we cannot guarantee the quality of service,” she said.
The governor added that replacement machines have since arrived, with two already operational and others being installed. She invited the public to visit the hospital and verify the centre’s functionality.
Waiguru criticised what she called the politics of cheap propaganda and urged those raising false claims to stop misleading the public for political gain.
Kerugoya dialysis crisis
Her remarks come after several media reports highlighted a crisis at the hospital. Few dialysis machines were working, leaving hundreds of patients with kidney disease struggling to access treatment.
Senator Kamau Murango of Kirinyaga also raised concerns over the shortage, calling for urgent repairs and questioning why funds were available in the county account but not used to support critical medical services. The situation had sparked fear among patients dependent on regular dialysis to survive.
Kirinyaga County responded by securing new dialysis machines through the National Equipment Support Programme (NESP). By late September 2025, the hospital had installed new digital machines. County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services George Karoki said the new machines are fully digital and improve both safety and efficiency.
Staff at the renal unit have received training on the new machines to ensure smooth service delivery. The hospital continues to provide nutritional counselling and education on managing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, leading causes of kidney failure.
Waiguru emphasised that the hospital’s dialysis centre remains operational, with the new machines ensuring quality care. She called on the public and media to verify facts before spreading misinformation, reinforcing the county’s commitment to improving renal health services for Kirinyaga residents.