KUTRRH: Services, Referrals, SHA & Contact Details

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, commonly known as KUTRRH, is a 650-bed Level 6 national referral hospital located along the Northern Bypass near Kahawa West, Nairobi.

The public hospital provides advanced referral, diagnostic, surgical, oncology, renal, trauma, orthopaedic, critical-care and specialised outpatient services.

KUTRRH is also a teaching, training and research institution. It operates the Training Institute of Specialized Nursing and supports the clinical education of medical and nursing students.

About KUTRRH

KUTRRH was established as a state corporation under Legal Notice No. 4 of 2019 and operates under Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

The hospital opened its doors to patients in October 2019 and has a published capacity of 650 beds. It occupies a large campus adjoining Kenyatta University, with its main entrance along the Northern Bypass.

The institution was developed to expand Kenya’s capacity to provide highly specialised healthcare locally and reduce the number of patients who must travel abroad for diagnosis or treatment.

Its major areas of specialised care include:

• Oncology
• Molecular and nuclear imaging
• Trauma and orthopaedics
• Renal medicine
• Critical care
• Cardiology
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Specialist adult and pediatric clinics
• Medical research and training

KUTRRH Hospital Profile

The hospital’s official website continues to identify it as a national referral facility with a capacity of 650 beds.

Referral Process

Patients seeking specialised treatment should normally obtain a referral from the facility or doctor currently managing their condition.

KUTRRH publishes the following referral process:

1. Obtain a referral from a doctor at the current hospital or health facility.
2. Contact KUTRRH through the toll-free number 1558 for guidance.
3. Submit or arrange delivery of the patient’s medical report.
4. Allow the KUTRRH medical team to review the information.
5. Attend the hospital after the referral and appointment are confirmed.

A referral letter alone does not always mean the patient can arrive and immediately see a specialist.

KUTRRH’s FAQ states that referred patients require an appointment. Walk-in patients can, however, obtain emergency and general outpatient services.

How to Book an Appointment

Patients can arrange appointments by:

• Calling 1558
• Calling 0800 721 038
• Visiting the hospital’s health-records service desk
• Using the referral-booking facilities available through the official website

Patients should have the following information ready:

• Full name
• National identification or passport number
• Telephone number
• Referral letter
• Medical report
• Relevant test results
• Preferred clinic or specialist
• SHA or insurance information

Specialist availability and waiting times differ by department.

Emergency and Accident Care

KUTRRH provides emergency assessment and treatment for patients with serious injuries, sudden illnesses and other urgent conditions.

Emergency cases may include:

• Road-traffic injuries
• Severe trauma
• Breathing difficulties
• Chest pain
• Suspected stroke
• Severe burns
• Serious infections
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Pregnancy-related emergencies
• Pediatric emergencies
• Other potentially life-threatening conditions

Emergency patients do not need to wait for an ordinary specialist appointment before seeking urgent assessment.

For guidance, call the hospital’s toll-free contact centre on 1558 or 0800 721 038.

Oncology and Cancer Care

Oncology is one of KUTRRH’s flagship services.

The hospital provides multidisciplinary cancer assessment and treatment through specialists such as:

• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Hemato-oncologists
• Oncology nurses
• Pharmacists
• Radiographers
• Medical physicists
• Surgeons
• Palliative-care professionals
• Counsellors

Cancer services may include:

• Screening
• Specialist consultation
• Biopsy and pathology
• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Brachytherapy
• Surgical referrals
• Nuclear imaging
• Treatment monitoring
• Palliative and supportive care

KUTRRH has operated specialised clinics for cancers including breast, cervical, prostate, blood and colorectal cancers.

A patient’s treatment plan depends on diagnosis, cancer type, stage, pathology results and recommendations from the multidisciplinary clinical team.

Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre

KUTRRH operates an advanced molecular-imaging facility known as the Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre, or IMIC.

The centre includes nuclear-medicine technology used in cancer diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring.

Its facilities include:

• A cyclotron
• PET-CT imaging
• MRI
• CT imaging
• Brachytherapy
• Nuclear-medicine services
• Specialist molecular imaging

KUTRRH describes the centre as having the first cyclotron and PET-CT-based diagnostic infrastructure of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

A more precise directory description is:

“IMIC houses the first cyclotron installed within Kenya’s public hospital system and provides advanced PET-CT and molecular-imaging services.”

This avoids overstating the historical claim because PET and cyclotron services have evolved across the region over time.

What Is a Cyclotron?

A cyclotron is specialised equipment used to produce short-lived radioactive materials required for certain nuclear-medicine scans and treatments.

At a molecular-imaging centre, these materials may be used with PET-CT technology to help doctors:

• Detect certain cancers
• Identify disease spread
• Evaluate organ function
• Plan treatment
• Monitor response to therapy
• Detect recurrence

Not every cancer patient requires PET-CT imaging. The treating doctor determines whether it is clinically appropriate.

Radiotherapy

KUTRRH provides radiation treatment for selected cancer patients.

Radiotherapy uses controlled radiation to destroy or limit the growth of cancer cells.

Treatment may be delivered:

• As the main cancer treatment
• Before surgery
• After surgery
• Together with chemotherapy
• To relieve symptoms in advanced disease

Before treatment begins, patients normally undergo planning scans and consultations with the oncology team.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves medication intended to destroy or control cancer cells.

Treatment may be administered:

• Intravenously
• Orally
• In cycles
• As an inpatient
• As an outpatient

The treatment schedule depends on the cancer diagnosis, medicine prescribed and the patient’s overall health.

Patients should ask whether SHA or private insurance covers:

• Consultant fees
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Laboratory tests
• Imaging
• Admission
• Supportive medicines
• Follow-up consultations

Renal Services and Dialysis

KUTRRH provides renal treatment for patients with kidney conditions.

The hospital’s services page states that its renal department has 20 dialysis units operating around the clock.

Renal services may include:

• Nephrology consultations
• Hemodialysis
• Inpatient kidney care
• Critical-care dialysis
• Kidney-disease monitoring
• Pre-transplant assessment
• Post-transplant follow-up

KUTRRH recorded its first kidney transplant in 2025, marking an expansion of its renal programme.

Dialysis patients should confirm appointment times, test requirements and SHA or insurer authorization before attending.

Trauma and Orthopaedic Services

KUTRRH provides specialist treatment for injuries and musculoskeletal conditions.

Services may include:

• Fracture treatment
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Joint assessment
• Spine treatment
• Limb reconstruction
• Postoperative care
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Orthotic and mobility support

The hospital also operates rehabilitation services covering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and trauma-related rehabilitation.

Wound Care and Reconstructive Surgery

The wound-care clinic supports patients with complex or slow-healing wounds.

Patients may be referred for conditions such as:

• Diabetic wounds
• Pressure wounds
• Surgical wounds
• Burns
• Traumatic injuries
• Infected wounds
• Wounds requiring reconstructive treatment

Plastic and reconstructive specialists may participate when wound closure or tissue reconstruction is necessary.

Cardiology Services

KUTRRH provides assessment and treatment for heart and circulatory conditions.

Services may include:

• Specialist cardiology consultations
• Electrocardiography
• Echocardiography
• Cardiac monitoring
• Stress testing
• Catheterization-laboratory procedures
• Inpatient cardiac care
• Referral for cardiac surgery

Patients with sudden chest pain, collapse, severe breathlessness or stroke-like symptoms should seek emergency care rather than waiting for a clinic appointment.

General and Specialist Surgery

KUTRRH offers general and specialist surgical care.

Depending on the diagnosis and specialist availability, services may include:

• General surgery
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Urology
• Gynecological surgery
• Ear, nose and throat surgery
• Cancer surgery
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Pediatric surgery
• Cardiovascular procedures

Patients arranging elective surgery should obtain a current estimate that separates hospital charges from professional fees, implants, medication and diagnostic costs.

Intensive and Critical Care

KUTRRH provides intensive and high-dependency treatment for critically ill patients.

Critical-care admission may be required following:

• Major surgery
• Severe trauma
• Respiratory failure
• Serious infection
• Organ failure
• Heart complications
• Neurological emergencies

Visiting rules in critical-care units may be more restrictive than ordinary ward hours.

Diagnostic Imaging

KUTRRH provides a broad range of diagnostic imaging.

Available services may include:

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• CT
• MRI
• Mammography
• PET-CT
• Nuclear-medicine imaging
• Interventional radiology

Some investigations require:

• A referral
• Advance booking
• Fasting
• Kidney-function tests
• Contrast preparation
• Previous medical records
• SHA or insurer authorization

Patients should confirm preparation instructions when booking.

Laboratory and Pathology Services

Laboratory services support emergency, inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Testing may include:

• Hematology
• Clinical chemistry
• Microbiology
• Histopathology
• Cytology
• Blood-bank services
• Cancer-related tests
• Kidney and liver-function testing
• Infection screening

Some specialised tests may require an appointment or external processing.

Rehabilitation Services

KUTRRH provides rehabilitation for patients recovering from injury, illness, surgery or neurological conditions.

Services include:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Orthopaedic rehabilitation
• Mobility assessment
• Assistive devices

The hospital also operates a rehabilitative-devices shop stocking items such as wheelchairs, crutches, tripods and splints.

Sickle Cell Care

KUTRRH provides specialist support for patients living with sickle cell disease.

Care may involve:

• Specialist consultation
• Laboratory monitoring
• Pain-crisis treatment
• Blood transfusion support
• Infection management
• Patient education
• Long-term follow-up

Patients should confirm clinic schedules and referral requirements.

Telemedicine

KUTRRH uses digital health and telemedicine systems to support consultations, referrals, education and collaboration.

Telemedicine can allow clinicians to:

• Review patients remotely
• Consult other specialists
• Discuss complex cases
• Support referring hospitals
• Participate in international medical collaboration

Telemedicine does not replace a physical examination when one is clinically necessary.

Helipad and Emergency Access

The hospital campus includes a helipad intended to support emergency access and medical evacuation.

Use of the helipad depends on:

• Clinical need
• Aircraft availability
• Weather
• Aviation clearance
• Coordination with the receiving medical team
• Payment or insurance arrangements

It should not be described as an ordinary walk-in transport service.

Teaching and Research

KUTRRH combines patient care with healthcare training, research and innovation.

Its functions include:

• Clinical teaching
• Specialist nursing education
• Medical research
• Clinical studies
• Professional development
• Collaboration with universities and health institutions

In 2023, the hospital received approval to train Kenyatta University medical and nursing students.

However, KUTRRH is legally a separate state corporation rather than simply a hospital department owned and managed by Kenyatta University.

Training Institute of Specialized Nursing

KUTRRH operates the Training Institute of Specialized Nursing, known as TISN.

The institute was approved by the Nursing Council of Kenya in 2021.

Its higher-diploma programmes include:

• Kenya Registered Oncology Nursing
• Kenya Registered Critical Care Nursing
• Kenya Registered Perioperative Nursing
• Kenya Registered Nephrology Nursing

Current KUTRRH information confirms that these four specialist areas remain the institute’s core programmes.

Admissions, fees and available intakes should be checked on the official TISN application pages because not every programme necessarily admits students during every intake.

SHA Coverage at KUTRRH

KUTRRH began implementing the Social Health Authority programme in October 2024.

The hospital therefore accepts and processes SHA patients under applicable referral, authorization and benefit rules.

Patients should confirm:

• That their SHA registration is active
• Whether a primary-care referral is required
• Whether the specialist service is covered
• Whether preauthorization is needed
• Whether medicines are included
• Whether diagnostic imaging is covered
• Whether a co-payment applies
• Whether the selected room category is covered

KUTRRH stated in July 2025 that SHA was fully operational at the hospital and had disbursed funds supporting hospital services.

Coverage should still be verified for the individual patient because not every treatment, medicine or room category is automatically paid in full.

Private Insurance

KUTRRH may also process patients covered through private insurers, employer schemes and other approved payment arrangements.

Before attending, patients should ask their insurer:

• Whether KUTRRH is in the provider network
• Whether the consultant is covered
• Whether a referral is needed
• Whether preauthorization is required
• Whether diagnostic tests are covered
• Whether there is a co-payment
• Whether admission requires a guarantee letter

Admission Requirements

Documents requested during admission may include:

• National ID or passport
• SHA registration details
• Insurance card
• Referral letter
• Medical report
• Test results
• Preauthorization
• Payment guarantee or deposit
• Current medication list
• Emergency-contact details

Emergency patients may be stabilised before all administrative requirements are completed.

Visiting Hours

KUTRRH’s current contact page lists the following general visiting periods:

• 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
• 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Some hospital pages also display an early-morning visiting period of 5:30 a.m.–7:00 a.m.

Because the published pages are inconsistent, the safest wording is:

“General visiting hours include 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Contact the hospital to confirm early-morning and ward-specific access.”

ICU, isolation, maternity, pediatric and oncology units may impose additional restrictions.

Opening Hours

Emergency and inpatient services operate continuously.

This does not mean every specialist clinic, billing office, pharmacy window or diagnostic department operates around the clock.

Patients should confirm their appointment time before travelling.

KUTRRH Contact Information

Physical Address

Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital
Northern Bypass Road
Kahawa West
Nairobi, Kenya

Postal Address

P.O. Box 7674-00100
GPO Nairobi, Kenya

Toll-Free Numbers

1558

0800 721 038

International and General Line

+254 111 138 000

WhatsApp

+254 748 656 297

Referral Contacts

0795 340 216

0794 896 956

Customer-Care Email

[email protected]

Official Website

kutrrh.go.ke

These contacts are published on KUTRRH’s current official contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is KUTRRH located?

KUTRRH is located along the Northern Bypass near Kahawa West in Nairobi.

Is KUTRRH a public hospital?

Yes. It is a national public referral hospital and a state corporation under the Ministry of Health.

Is KUTRRH a Level 6 hospital?

Yes. KUTRRH operates as a Level 6 national referral hospital.

How many beds does KUTRRH have?

The hospital has a published capacity of 650 beds.

When did KUTRRH open?

It opened its doors to patients in October 2019.

Do I need a referral?

A referral is normally required to see a specialist. Emergency and general outpatient patients may be seen as walk-ins.

Can I arrive with a referral without an appointment?

No. KUTRRH states that a patient with a referral should book an appointment before attending.

How do I book an appointment?

Call 1558 or 0800 721 038, or visit the health-records desk at the hospital.

Does KUTRRH accept SHA?

Yes. KUTRRH began implementing SHA in October 2024. Patients should confirm coverage and authorization for the required treatment.

Does KUTRRH provide cancer treatment?

Yes. The hospital offers oncology consultations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, imaging and other cancer-related services.

Does KUTRRH have a cyclotron?

Yes. Its Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre includes a cyclotron and PET-CT diagnostic services.

Does KUTRRH offer dialysis?

Yes. The renal department operates 20 dialysis units and provides round-the-clock renal services.

Does KUTRRH perform kidney transplants?

KUTRRH reported performing its first kidney transplant in July 2025. Patients should contact the renal programme for current transplant-assessment requirements.

Does KUTRRH train nurses?

Yes. TISN offers specialist higher-diploma programmes in oncology, critical care, perioperative and nephrology nursing.

What are the visiting hours?

Current general visiting periods are 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Confirm ward-specific rules before visiting.

What is the KUTRRH toll-free number?

Call 1558 or 0800 721 038.

What is the KUTRRH WhatsApp number?

The current WhatsApp contact is +254 748 656 297.

Why Patients Choose KUTRRH

KUTRRH provides advanced public referral services supported by modern diagnostic and treatment infrastructure.

Its major strengths include:

• Level 6 national referral status
• A capacity of 650 beds
• Comprehensive oncology treatment
• Cyclotron and PET-CT imaging
• Renal dialysis and kidney-transplant services
• Trauma and orthopaedic care
• Critical-care services
• Specialist clinics
• Rehabilitation
• SHA implementation
• Medical and nursing education
• Research and clinical innovation

Patients seeking specialist treatment should obtain a referral, book an appointment and verify SHA or private-insurance authorization before travelling.

For referral guidance or customer support, call 1558 or 0800 721 038.

Read Also: Apollo Agriculture Kenya: Farm Inputs, Loans & Contacts