The Ellen Jane Rihoy Trust completed one of its most ambitious overseas projects to date: the expansion of Segera Mission Dispensary in Laikipia North, Kenya. What began as plans for a modest maternity wing has evolved into a four-storey referral hospital serving the wider Laikipia region.
Transforming the original vision
The initial funding provided through a partnership between the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission (GOA&DC) and EJ Rihoy Trust was successfully leveraged by the local implementing partner, Segera Mission, to attract considerable additional Kenyan donor support. This included the personal support and involvement of the First Lady of Kenya. These contributions enabled the construction of a full hospital, far surpassing the scope of the original proposal.
Facilities and equipment
The completed Segera Mission Hospital now offers maternity, paediatric, surgical, and intensive care facilities. Its ground floor houses two labour wards, a newborn unit, theatres, recovery rooms and a surgical ward. Dedicated children’s, female and male wards occupy the upper floors, alongside an ICU and HDU. Each level is equipped with a nurses’ station, pharmacy and sanitation facilities. The hospital has also received new beds and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, secured through Kenyan donors.
Benefits for the community
The hospital is now recognised by the Laikipia County Government as a premier referral facility. Registration with Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Fund ensures affordable treatment, reducing the financial burden on families. Beyond healthcare, the project brings wider socio-economic benefits, including reduced travel costs, better productivity and new opportunities for local economic growth. For the Segera community, the hospital stands as a beacon of hope and progress.
Though the project took longer than planned, its expanded scope justifies the delay. The new hospital has transformed healthcare access across Laikipia and in neighbouring counties – creating lasting benefits for generations. The Ellen Jane Rihoy Trust and the Segera Mission Foundation extend gratitude to the GOA&DC and all donors for their role in making this vision a reality.
