Trans Nzoia County has committed KSh7 million to expand the production of prostheses and other assistive devices at Kitale County Hospital, with ambitions to establish the facility as a regional rehabilitation centre serving several counties in western Kenya.
Governor George Natembeya pledged KSh5 million to upgrade equipment and increase production capacity at the hospital. A further KSh2 million was allocated to purchase materials needed to sustain device production.
The investment follows a prosthetic outreach programme that attracted significantly more people than anticipated, highlighting the level of unmet demand for affordable mobility services in the region.
According to the Kenya News Agency, organisers initially expected to serve approximately 50 people. More than 150 beneficiaries attended on the first day, and the programme proceeded with plans to fit 100 people. kenyanews.go.ke
A proposed regional prosthetics centre
The county plans to expand the existing workshop’s ability to manufacture devices for people with lower-limb, upper-limb and spinal or trunk-related disabilities.
Governor Natembeya said the intention is for Kitale to serve patients from neighbouring counties, including Turkana, West Pokot, Bungoma and Elgeyo Marakwet, as well as people travelling from the Eldoret area.
Developing a regional centre could reduce the time and cost associated with travelling to distant facilities for assessment, fitting and repairs. This is particularly important for people who require several clinical visits before a prosthesis or orthosis can be used safely.
A comprehensive service should ideally provide:
- Clinical and biomechanical assessment
- Residual-limb and skin evaluation
- Casting or digital shape capture
- Prosthetic and orthotic fabrication
- Trial fitting and alignment
- Physiotherapy and gait training
- User education
- Repairs and component replacement
- Periodic clinical review
- Psychosocial and community support
The investment will create the greatest impact if it supports this full rehabilitation pathway rather than measuring success only by the number of devices produced.
Outreach reveals substantial unmet demand
Kenneth Meli, an orthopaedic technologist and national chairperson of the Association of Orthopaedic Technology Prosthetics and Orthotics, said the Trans Nzoia programme recorded the highest number of beneficiaries among 17 outreach activities conducted across Kenya.
The difference between the expected attendance of 50 people and the more than 150 who arrived on the first day demonstrates how quickly demand can surface when services become visible and accessible.
The outreach used lightweight and affordable technology described by organisers as Swiss technology for transtibial prostheses. It was supported by Swiss Ability and the Catholic Church in partnership with the Trans Nzoia County Government.
The programme brought together the county administration, orthopaedic technology professionals, disability representatives, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and faith-based partners.
Such collaboration can mobilise patients and resources effectively. However, outreach activity should also connect beneficiaries with permanent services able to provide follow-up, adjustments and repairs after the fitting event has ended.
Local production as a route to better access
Local fabrication can shorten lead times and reduce dependence on distant workshops. It can also allow devices to be modified according to the user’s anatomy, functional needs, environment and occupation.
For people living in Trans Nzoia and surrounding counties, these requirements may include:
- Walking over uneven rural terrain
- Agricultural and manual work
- Long daily walking distances
- Limited access to transport
- Exposure to dust, moisture and difficult weather
- Footwear compatibility
- Affordable replacement components
- Access to rapid repairs
Producing devices closer to the patient also gives clinicians greater opportunity to monitor fit and function over time.
Local production should not, however, be confused with simplified or standardised provision. Prostheses and orthoses remain individually prescribed medical and rehabilitation devices. Production capacity must therefore grow alongside professional staffing, clinical governance and quality control.
Importance of qualified orthopaedic technologists
The proposed expansion will depend heavily on the availability of trained orthopaedic technologists, prosthetists, orthotists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation clinicians.
Equipment and materials are valuable only when supported by professionals who can assess the patient, select appropriate components, fabricate the device, optimise alignment and identify potential clinical risks.
Investment should consequently cover:
- Recruitment and retention of qualified personnel
- Continuing professional development
- Workshop safety and extraction systems
- Appropriate machinery and hand tools
- Reliable supplies of components and consumables
- Standardised clinical documentation
- Device traceability
- Repair and maintenance capacity
- Outcome and user-satisfaction monitoring
Partnerships with professional associations and training institutions could help Kitale develop into a centre for clinical placements, skills development and continuing education.
National assistive-device context
Kenya’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities supports assistive devices through the National Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities. Eligible products include prosthetic arms and legs, calipers, surgical footwear, wheelchairs and crutches.
Applicants generally require professional assessment and supporting disability documentation. The Council acknowledges that limited resources and the need to balance quality with affordability continue to restrict the number of people who can be supported. NCPWD
Kenya’s national rehabilitation and assistive-technology strategy has also emphasised improved access, stronger service systems and collaboration between government and development partners. Ministry of Health
County investment is therefore important because it converts national policy objectives into locally available services.
From fitting camp to sustainable service
The Trans Nzoia initiative offers an opportunity to move beyond periodic outreach and establish a permanent regional system.
Key indicators should include:
- Time from assessment to delivery
- First-fit success
- Number of required adjustments
- Device-repair turnaround
- Follow-up attendance
- Comfort and daily wear time
- Functional mobility
- Return to education or employment
- User satisfaction
- Device use after six and 12 months
These measures would provide a better indication of long-term impact than distribution numbers alone.
A model for county-led rehabilitation
Trans Nzoia’s commitment demonstrates how county governments can strengthen disability services by investing directly in local production and rehabilitation infrastructure.
The proposed regional centre could benefit people across western and northwestern Kenya while creating employment, professional-development and training opportunities within orthopaedic technology.
The next step is to ensure that the KSh7 million investment supports a sustainable clinical system: qualified professionals, dependable materials, appropriate technologies, safe workshop practices and continued follow-up.
If those elements are established, Kitale County Hospital could become more than a production site. It could provide a regional model for locally anchored, professionally delivered prosthetic and orthotic care.
- Kenya News Agency: Trans Nzoia to Boost Production of Prosthetics
- Trans Nzoia County Government
- National Council for Persons with Disabilities
- NCPWD Assistive Devices Programme
- Kenya Ministry of Health
- Kenya Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategy