This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the government to purchase 500 beds from local innovators to address the shortage of hospital beds in public hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.
Two young entrepreneurs, Mungai Gathogo and Joseph Muhinja, have been tasked with delivering the beds within a month and a half. Based in Githunguri, Kiambu county, they use locally assembled materials to manufacture standard hospital beds.
The President's Delivery Unit (PDU) was dispatched to Githunguri on Wednesday to assess the beds and confirm their viability. PDU Secretary Andrew Wakahiu congratulated the innovators and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting local innovations under the Buy-Kenya-Build-Kenya policy.
The locally manufactured beds feature standard hospital design, including a reclining frame, height adjuster, and retractable serving extension. They also come with a portable gas cylinder, drip stand, and are easy to dismantle for transportation.
Wakahiu stated that the beds will undergo Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) inspections to ensure their suitability for hospital use. The government will also collaborate with the Numeric Machining Complex to provide equipment and support the innovators in their production.
Already, the entrepreneurs have sold one bed to a home-care client and employed seven people. Their bed retails at around Ksh65,000, which is cheaper than the Ksh85,000 for the cheapest available import.
