Uhuru went on to have a brief on-air conversation with the presenter Shaffie Zele on topics including the new hospital, wrapping up the chat by promising the presenter a proper interview – to which Zele responded that he didn’t have the President’s contact.
Many online hailed Zele for his professionalism and composure while undertaking the impromptu interview, with video of the visit widely shared on social media.
Ruben FM, on the other hand, wrote: “It was an honor to host the president at Ruben FM yesterday during his impromptu visit in Mukuru Kwa Ruben. Great interview by Shaffie Zele.”
The hospitals project has been in the works since last year. In his Jamhuri Day speech in 2020, Uhuru stated that the project worth over Ksh2 billion would result in the bed capacity of Nairobi County-run hospitals increasing by Ksh280.
He noted that it was in line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) plan that forms one of the four pillars of his ‘Big Four’ development agenda.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in February announced that the President would commission 24 hospitals in the city- 19 of which were to be built from scratch at a cost of Ksh70 million each, while five were to be refurbished at a cost of Ksh300 million.
The facilities are located in Soweto, Kayole, Uthiru, Kiamiko, Ushirika, Viwandani, Majengo, Mathare, Korogocho, Kawangware, Gitare, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Kibera and Githurai 44.
Watch video of part of Uhuru’s trip to Ruben FM below: