A growing number of specialist doctors are shifting from Nairobi’s busy city center to satellite towns like Kikuyu, Juja, Thika, Kiserian and Muthiga in Kiambu County, where demand for affordable healthcare is rising rapidly.
One such doctor is Dr. Mary Wanjiku, a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, who set up her clinic in Muthiga less than a year ago. She says the move was driven by the “obvious need” for specialist care in the area.
“I’ve seen this place grow. Patients come from Kikuyu, Kangemi and even Westlands in search of a gynaecologist. But there was nowhere they could just walk in and be treated,” she told Kiambu TV.
Kenya’s health system remains overstretched. According to the 2023 Health Labour Market Analysis, the country has just 13,000 doctors, of which fewer than 5,000 are specialists. This translates to roughly one doctor for every 5,000–6,000 people — far below the recommended ratio of one doctor for every 1,000 citizens.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council further notes that most specialists are concentrated in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, leaving peri-urban and rural areas underserved.
Satellite towns like Muthiga, however, are attracting doctors due to rising populations, affordable land and growing middle-class demand. Dr. Wanjiku’s clinic offers services ranging from antenatal care and deliveries to fibroid operations, menopause management, fertility testing and cancer screening. For highly specialized treatments such as IVF, she refers patients to larger hospitals.
Patients say the convenience is a game-changer. “The queues in Westlands were long. Here, I get seen quickly and save both money and time,” said Esther, a Muthiga resident.
Yet, the financial realities of running suburban clinics remain tough. Many rely on cash-paying clients, with doctors often hesitant to accept insurance due to lengthy claim settlement delays.
Experts warn that while suburban clinics improve access, they cannot alone fix Kenya’s shortage of specialists. Investment in training, retention and incentives is needed to expand universal healthcare.
For Dr. Wanjiku, the goal is simple: to provide dignified care close to home. “If a woman can walk in, be seen and leave knowing she’s been cared for, then we’ve done something important,” she said.
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