In 2018 President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the management of KenGen to set aside Sh300m for modernizing Naivasha Sub-county Hospital.
The President noted that this was the only public hospital serving families working in KenGen and Naivasha town and thus the need to equip and expand it.
Kenyatta made the remarks following a request by Nakuru leaders when he officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the Olkaria 1 unit 6 geothermal power plant in Naivasha.
The directive saw Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui form a technical team to oversee the renovation of the facility.
Nakuru residents have been complaining over the presence of major investments in the area like Geothermal Development Company (GDC) but minimal corporate social responsibility activities to benefit the local community.
However, the project may hit a snag after a section of leaders from Naivasha raised concerns over the manner in which the project is being implemented.
Led by Lakeview Ward Member of County Assembly Peter Karanja Mburu, the leaders claim the technical team to oversee the upgrade of the facility has failed to consult and incorporate the views of the residents as well as elected leaders.
The leaders are now calling on the county government of Nakuru to ensure they adhere to the constitution as far as public participation is concerned before the project is implemented.
“Health is devolved and therefore the elected leaders, as well as residents of Naivasha, must be fully involved in the upgrading of the Naivasha Level 5 hospital,” said the MCA Karanja.
The Lakeview Ward MCA adding that if the county of Nakuru will not involve the elected leaders and the citizens of Naivasha over the same, then they will be heading to court to stop the project.