Tikit is a village named after the Tikeet tree, a hardwood species valued for house construction because, according to local residents, it is resistant to termite damage.
The area is inhabited predominantly by the Pokot people.
Dr. David Roden (1938–2007), the founder of the hospital, was of British origin and lived with his wife and four children in Marich, West Pokot, where he worked to support the development of the local Pokot community. He died tragically in a car accident, and several years later, in accordance with his wishes, his wife, Mama Hidat, transferred the clinic buildings in Tikit to the care of the Catholic religious congregation Evangelising Sisters of Mary in Kenya.
The healthcare needs of the Tikit and Masol areas were first highlighted by Samuel Nakori, the chief of Tikit, who worked as a receptionist at the Marich Pass Field Centre until 2003. The centre, established by Dr. David Roden, served as a field study facility for international students. The local community long desired a healthcare facility closer than the clinic in Sigor. Nakori recognised that access was a priority and organised local residents to manually clear a five-kilometre road through dense bush, connecting the area to the existing road network.
Architectural plans for a basic health facility were obtained from the Ministry of Works, and preparation of the five-hectare site began between 2005 and 2007. By 2018, the walls of the building had been completed, including an outpatient department for daily patient care and an inpatient section with a maternity ward.
The facility was constructed using concrete blocks and fired clay bricks produced on-site by a team of local women. Construction materials, including cement and stone aggregate, were transported in two stages—first by an 18-ton truck and then by a smaller 5-ton vehicle. Water was drawn from a shallow well, while sand and ballast were carried manually by women from the community. However, the available water was too saline for drinking.
A borehole was drilled on the edge of the compound, although the water distribution system had not yet been installed. The roofing consists of metal sheets mounted on steel beams, and because of the risk of termite damage, all doors and window frames were made of steel. Rainwater is collected and stored in PVC tanks.
In 2018, Sister Clementina, as director of the clinic, began revitalising the facility in cooperation with Dr. Katarína Mulama from St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava. With the support of Professor Vladimír Krčméry, solar electricity was installed, an environmentally friendly biological waste disposal system was established, rainwater harvesting was improved, the premises were renovated, the hospital was equipped with 30 beds, diagnostic equipment was supplied, the laboratory gained the capacity to perform basic tests, and the pharmacy began receiving regular medicine supplies.
In October 2019, the clinic was officially opened as a Level 2 Dispensary within the Kenyan healthcare system.
In 2021, the development of the clinic was significantly supported by Dvojfarebný svet, n.o., with funding from SlovakAid. During the following three years, the facility provided treatment to approximately 6,000 patients and emergency outreach medical care to 1,500 patients in remote areas. The hospital advanced to Level 3B within the Kenyan healthcare system and obtained accreditation from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Today, the hospital has a fully equipped laboratory, a maternity ward with an incubator for premature newborns, a minor operating room, an ultrasound room, and a pharmacy. It is also equipped with an ambulance used for outreach services in remote areas and for transferring complicated cases to the referral hospital.
Province: Rift Valley
County: West Pokot
Area: Masol
Sub-area: Tikit
The Masol Plains, situated at approximately 900 metres above sea level, form part of the semi-arid landscape of the East African Rift Valley. The area lies north of the Cherangani Hills (3,700 metres above sea level), which serve as a permanent source of water for the surrounding lowlands.
The project is located approximately 520 kilometres from Nairobi, in one of the most marginalised regions of Kenya. Annual rainfall in Masol averages around 500 mm, but evaporation rates are high and rainfall distribution is unpredictable.
The nearest administrative centre, with government offices and an open market, is Sigor, located approximately 20 kilometres away during the dry season. The area is crossed by one major lowland corridor and several seasonal rivers.
The facility provides healthcare services for approximately 6,000–7,000 residents of the Masol area.
Its activities focus on:
Treatment of tropical diseases (malaria, typhoid fever, brucellosis, leishmaniasis)
Treatment of common infections and injuries
Antenatal care for pregnant women
Safe delivery and maternity care
Childhood immunisation
Outreach visits to patients in remote areas within a 100-kilometre radius
Community health education
Efforts to eliminate illegal traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM)
Type of Institution:
Faith-based, non-profit clinic operated by Catholic religious sisters
Number of Staff: 12
1 cook
1 cleaner
2 security guards
1 clinical officer
2 nurses
1 laboratory technician
1 receptionist
1 ambulance driver
1 midwife
1 Slovak physician
Services Provided:
24/7 emergency care
Daily outpatient services
Inpatient ward for children and adults
Maternity ward
Community outreach services including vaccination campaigns and health education
Number of Patients:
150–300 patients per month
Deliveries:
15–20 births per month
The healthcare centre project is contributing to significant positive change in the Masol area.
First, the clinic has brought healthcare services closer to local communities, reducing the need for people to travel long distances in search of medical care. Second, it provides quality healthcare services aimed at reducing deaths caused by malaria, dehydration, pneumonia, and other common diseases. Third, the project seeks to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by ensuring safe deliveries within the health facility and timely transport of mothers experiencing complications during childbirth.
In addition to providing medical care, patients receive information and guidance on how to care for their own health and the health of their families.
24/7 healthcare services at the clinic
Laboratory diagnostics
Ultrasound examinations
Outpatient consultations and treatment
Hospitalisation of patients
Maternity services and deliveries
Referral and transport of complicated cases to the referral hospital
Ambulance outreach visits twice a week to remote communities
Treatment and medical care in the field
Transport of critically ill patients to the hospital in Tikit
Childhood immunisation
Community health education
In cooperation with international healthcare volunteers, we provide professional training for hospital staff as well as internship opportunities focused on the exchange and transfer of medical knowledge and clinical experience.
In 2021, the development of the clinic was supported by Dvojfarebný svet, n.o. through funding from SlovakAid.
An important component of the project is the fight against FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and the promotion of women’s rights.
The facility has obtained NHIF accreditation (National Health Insurance Fund of Kenya).
Koordinátorka projektu Zodpovedný lekár
