Laikipia Introduces Motorbike Ambulances to Improve Child and Maternal Healthcare
Posted on : Friday , 6th February 2026
In order to increase access to emergency medical care for pregnant mothers and babies, especially in isolated areas of Laikipia North where bad roads and long travel times to hospitals continue to be significant obstacles, the Laikipia County Government has introduced a new fleet of motorcycle ambulances.
Launched on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the project aims to save lives by facilitating faster medical response in remote locations where conventional ambulances are hampered by difficult-to-reach terrain or inadequate road networks.
“Today, we are excited to be launching the pilot for motorcycle ambulances in collaboration with the Eezer Initiative,” said Dr. Taiti, stating that the county was attempting to enhance its health indices at the time the campaign was launched.
Before expanding to other parts of Kenya, the Eezer Initiative, a Swedish-backed program that promotes rural healthcare mobility in Africa, collaborated with Laikipia County to pilot the idea.
Dr. Alfred Sadera, Eezer's Laikipia coordinator, claims that the program closes a significant maternal health gap.
“We believe this project will solve most of the challenges related to access to care,” he stated “We understand this region struggles with poor roads and long distances to health centers, especially for women in labour.”
Five motorcycle ambulances with patient carriers and medical supplies were deployed throughout Laikipia North and portions of Laikipia West during the pilot's initial phase.
The new units will enhance referral systems in remote locations and supplement current ambulances, said Wilson Gitonga, the County Director of Preventive and Promotive Health Services.
“These motorcycles will help us transfer patients who need urgent referral services, especially mothers and children, from rural health facilities,” Gitonga said.
The program's goal is to reduce emergency care delays, which are a significant contributing cause to maternal death.
The Eezer program, which was first introduced in Burundi, used 71 motorcycle ambulances to do 24,000 pregnancy-related transports between 2021 and 2023.
