The Dr. Joyce Laboso Memorial Mother and Child Wellness Centre is one of the most significant healthcare projects in Bomet County. Located in the Ng'ung'unyat area of Longisa Ward in Bomet East Sub-County, the facility was developed to improve access to specialised healthcare services, particularly for mothers and children, while also easing pressure on the Longisa County Referral Hospital.

The story of this major health facility is closely connected to the late Dr. Joyce Laboso, who served as the second Governor of Bomet County. The centre was named in her honour as a lasting memorial to her contribution to the county and her commitment to improving the lives of the people of Bomet.

Today, the facility stands as more than just a hospital building. It represents a major investment in the future of healthcare in Bomet County and a project that has taken several years to move from planning and construction towards full operationalisation.

THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT

The need for a dedicated mother and child health facility arose from the growing demand for healthcare services in Bomet County. Longisa County Referral Hospital has for many years served as a major referral facility for Bomet residents and patients from neighbouring counties.

As the demand for medical services continued to grow, there was a need to expand the county's healthcare infrastructure and reduce congestion at existing facilities.

The proposed Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre was therefore designed as an important solution to this challenge. In April 2022, the Kenya News Agency reported that the proposed project was expected to be a modern facility aimed at transferring some services from the congested Longisa County Referral Hospital. At that stage, it was described as a 200-bed facility with an estimated cost of about KSh 300 million.

The project was supported through partnerships involving the County Government of Bomet, the national government's Kenya Devolution Support Programme and other development partners.

HONOURING THE LEGACY OF DR. JOYCE LABOSO

Naming the facility after Dr. Joyce Laboso gave the project an important historical and emotional significance.

Dr. Laboso served as Bomet's second governor and remains an important figure in the county's political and development history. Following her death in 2019, efforts were made to establish the Mother and Child Wellness Centre as part of her legacy. Earlier county reporting also linked the proposed centre to the county's broader efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare.

The facility therefore carries her name as a symbol of continued investment in the wellbeing of mothers, newborns and children.

For many families, access to quality maternal and child healthcare is essential. Expectant mothers require proper medical attention before, during and after delivery. Newborn babies also require specialised care, particularly when complications arise.

A modern health facility dedicated to these services has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of families.

A JOURNEY OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

The journey of constructing the Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre has taken several years.

Official county procurement documents for the proposed construction were published in late 2021, while construction and development progressed in phases over the following years.

By 2023, Bomet County officials reported that the facility was more than 90 percent complete. The county administration said the contractor was putting the final touches on the project as preparations continued for the next stage of development.

In June 2025, a Senate committee that visited Bomet was informed that the facility had reached approximately 97 percent completion, according to the contractor.

As the project moved closer to completion, attention shifted from construction to the equally important question of equipping and staffing the facility.

A hospital building alone cannot provide healthcare. Medical equipment, qualified doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are all necessary before patients can fully benefit from a new health facility.

In September 2025, the County Government of Bomet announced that equipment was being deployed and installed as preparations continued towards commissioning the facility. At that time, the county described the project as having a capacity of 250 beds.

The reported capacity of the facility has changed as the project has progressed, with the most recent reports describing the completed facility as a 300-bed Level Five hospital.

A MODERN FACILITY FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN

The main vision behind the Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre is to provide improved and specialised healthcare services.

The facility is expected to support maternal and child health services while strengthening Bomet County's referral healthcare system. Earlier reports also indicated that the centre was expected to be equipped with modern diagnostic equipment, including facilities intended to support advanced medical services.

The importance of maternal and child healthcare cannot be overstated.

A healthy mother has a better opportunity to experience a safe pregnancy and delivery. Proper medical care can also help healthcare professionals identify complications early and provide the necessary treatment.

Children, particularly newborns and premature babies, may require specialised attention. Access to quality healthcare facilities can therefore make a major difference during critical moments.

The establishment of this facility is expected to strengthen the capacity of Bomet County to provide these essential services closer to the people.

REDUCING PRESSURE ON LONGISA REFERRAL HOSPITAL

One of the major reasons behind the project is the need to ease pressure on Longisa County Referral Hospital.

Longisa is an important healthcare facility not only for Bomet residents but also for patients from other parts of the South Rift region. As the population grows and demand for specialised healthcare increases, major referral hospitals can experience congestion.

The new Dr. Joyce Laboso facility is expected to help address this challenge by expanding the county's healthcare capacity.

When patients can access appropriate services at a dedicated facility, pressure on other major hospitals can potentially be reduced. This may improve service delivery and help medical professionals manage patients more effectively.

Bomet County has described the project as a major facility that will provide key referral services to residents and patients from neighbouring counties.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Beyond healthcare, the establishment of the facility could also create new economic opportunities around the surrounding area.

Hospitals attract patients, healthcare workers, visitors and service providers. This can create demand for accommodation, food, transport and other essential services.

Local businesses may therefore benefit from the increased movement of people associated with a major referral facility.

Small businesses, shops and transport providers could all potentially experience increased activity as the facility becomes operational.

The project could also create employment opportunities for healthcare professionals and other workers. Doctors, nurses, specialists, administrators, cleaners, security personnel and many other professionals may be required to support the operations of a major hospital.

The County Government of Bomet has previously indicated that staffing and equipping health facilities are important parts of ensuring that completed projects can begin serving the public.

THE LATEST STATUS OF THE FACILITY

As of the most recent reports in late August and early September 2026, the construction of the Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre had been reported as complete and the facility was being prepared for commissioning. Recent reporting described it as a 300-bed Level Five facility valued at approximately KSh 300 million.

The key focus now is ensuring that the hospital is properly equipped, staffed and fully operational.

The County Government of Bomet had earlier stated that it was working on equipping the facility, while recent reports indicated that preparations were underway ahead of an expected official commissioning.

For Bomet residents, the most important milestone will ultimately be the moment when the hospital officially begins receiving and treating patients.

A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

The Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre is expected to leave a lasting mark on Bomet County's healthcare system.

For expectant mothers, it represents hope for improved access to quality medical services. For children, it could provide specialised healthcare during some of the most critical stages of their lives.

For healthcare professionals, the facility could provide a modern environment in which to deliver medical services.

And for the people of Bomet, it stands as a reminder of the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure.

The project also carries a powerful message about legacy. Dr. Joyce Laboso may no longer be alive, but her name will continue to be associated with a facility intended to serve mothers, children and families for generations.

The journey of the hospital—from a proposed project, through years of construction, to completion and preparations for full operation—has been a long one.

It has involved planning, funding, construction, inspections and efforts to equip the facility.

Today, the story is entering a new chapter.

The focus is no longer simply on building the hospital. The greater task is ensuring that the facility becomes fully operational and delivers the high-quality healthcare services for which it was established.

THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN BOMET

The completion of the Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre has the potential to transform healthcare services in Bomet County.

If properly equipped, staffed and managed, the facility could become an important referral centre serving not only Bomet residents but also patients from neighbouring counties.

Its success will ultimately be measured not only by the size or beauty of the building but by the lives that are improved and saved within its walls.

The Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Wellness Centre is therefore more than a construction project. It is a symbol of hope, a tribute to a former governor and a major investment in the health of mothers, children and future generations across Bomet County.