Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku flags Off the Trauma Center ambulance together with Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse. Photo by Gvns Press. 
By Gvns Press
Makueni County has taken a major step in strengthening emergency response along the busy Mombasa Highway with the launch of a new Trauma Center in Emali, established through a partnership between the county government and St. John Ambulance.
The state-of-the-art facility, complete with two fully equipped ambulances, will serve accident victims along the 170-kilometer stretch of the highway that cuts across Makueni — one of Kenya’s busiest and most accident-prone routes.
Speaking during the launch, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili hailed the facility as a “game changer in road safety and emergency response.”
“For a long time, we have lost many lives along this highway because of delayed response. This trauma center will ensure timely medical care and save countless lives,”
she said, pledging the county’s continued support in staffing and maintaining the facility.
Mulili further urged the national government to intensify efforts to combat drunk driving, citing it as a major cause of road accidents in the region.
Presiding over the event, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku commended St. John Ambulance for its lifesaving efforts and announced plans by the national government to construct a new trauma hospital in Emali to complement the existing center.
“The government recognizes the high number of accidents on this corridor. This initiative is timely and aligns with our broader agenda to improve emergency healthcare across the country,” Ruku said.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Joyce Mutua described the project as a crucial milestone in the county’s healthcare system, noting that it would significantly cut response times and improve survival rates for crash victims.
“Previously, victims had to be transported long distances for treatment. With this facility in place, we expect faster intervention and better patient outcomes,” she noted.
According to Dr. Gome Lenga, Chancellor of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Emali Trauma Center is one of only two major trauma facilities along the Mombasa–Malaba corridor, the other being in Naivasha.
“Our goal is to enhance emergency medical response nationwide. In addition to running this center, we are training bodaboda riders on basic first aid so they can assist accident victims before help arrives,” he said.
St. John Ambulance currently operates 14 trauma centers across Kenya, underscoring its growing role in strengthening the country’s emergency response network.
