Murang’a eye and dental Hospital to be relocated to public land.

The Murang'a County government has announced plans to relocate the Kenneth Matiba Eye and Dental Hospital, which is located in Kenol Town, from private the premises it is operating from to a public piece of land.

Governor Mwangi Wa Iria said his administration had identified public land suitable for the construction of a modern unit so that it can accommodate more patients from Muran’ga and the neighbouring counties.

The hospital, which has equipment worth over Sh100 million, was opened last year and has been the subject of heated debate because it is housed in a private building. 

Mr Wa Iria has been criticised for renting the premises instead of building the hospital on government land. The county government pays at least Sh14.4 million in rent annually.

Barely four months after the facility was opened, the owner of the building, George Wainaina, threatened have the hospital’s the hospital’s equipment attached for more than Sh8 million rent arrears.

The county boss further defended his decision to buy 10 acres of land using public funds, saying the cost was not above the current market price.