Quality healthcare is a strategic pillar of military readiness, ensuring that personnel remain physically fit, mentally resilient and operationally prepared to fulfil their mandate. Sustained investment in modern medical infrastructure, specialised healthcare and emergency response capabilities is therefore essential to safeguarding the welfare of military personnel and sustaining operational effectiveness.
In advancing this priority, the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, visited the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH) to assess its existing healthcare capacity, infrastructure, ongoing projects and future development requirements ahead of its planned modernisation into a fully equipped Level 5 healthcare facility.
The visit focused on aligning the hospital’s infrastructure, medical technology and specialised services with evolving healthcare demands, while enhancing its capacity to provide comprehensive medical support to Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel and their families.
The redevelopment project, expected to be completed by 2029, will deliver modern healthcare infrastructure, including a spacious and technologically advanced Accident and Emergency Unit, expanded consultation rooms, specialised outpatient clinics, a mother and child unit, state-of-the-art operating theatres, critical care facilities, a renal unit and enhanced radiology services.
These improvements are expected to expand access to specialised treatment, enhance emergency medical response, improve patient care and reinforce the hospital’s capacity to support both operational deployments and routine healthcare requirements.
Established in 1970, DFMH has progressively evolved into a Level 5 healthcare institution, playing a critical role in providing medical services to military personnel and their dependants. Its continued modernisation reflects the KDF’s commitment to building a responsive, resilient and sustainable military healthcare system capable of meeting present and future demands.
The CDF was accompanied by the Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General David Ketter; Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces, Personnel and Logistics, Major General Peter Limo; Director of Medical Services, Major General (Dr) Francis Kuria; and other senior military officers and medical personnel.
The planned transformation of DFMH underscores a fundamental defence priority: a healthy, resilient and medically supported force is essential to operational readiness, mission effectiveness and sustained national defence capability.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.
