Antenatal Care (ANC)
Early and continuous antenatal clinics with pregnancy dating, scans, laboratory screening and birth-preparedness counselling.
100 YEARS 1926 – 2026 · A century of safe motherhood
Where every mother breathes easy.
Pumwani Maternity, Childcare & Referral Hospital — the largest and busiest maternity hospital in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa. A Level 5 county referral centre for comprehensive, essential maternity care, open 24 hours a day, every day.
Today at Pumwani
24/7 Service
Outpatient clinics
Mon – Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location
General Waruingi St, Eastleigh
Emergency line
+254 778 564 272
1926
Year Founded
0
Years of Care
0
Busiest in Africa
Level 5
Referral Hospital
Who We Are
A pioneer of maternity care in Sub-Saharan Africa
Pumwani Maternity, Childcare & Referral Hospital is a Level 5 referral maternity hospital on the east of Nairobi City. We exist so that all mothers receive comprehensive, essential maternity care — from the first antenatal visit to a newborn’s first breath and through the postnatal journey.
Founded in 1926 by the Lady Grigg Welfare League, the hospital takes its name from the Swahili word meaning “to breathe” or “to relax” — befitting of a mother who has just delivered a healthy baby. Under Nairobi City County, Pumwani remains the largest maternity hospital in the country and the third busiest on the African continent.
Our Vision
To be the leading hospital in quality specialised healthcare for women and children.
Our Mission
To provide woman- and child-centred quality and accessible healthcare; improved client experience; and facilitate research.
Uzazi Salama, Taifa Imara
Safe motherhood, a strong nation — our motto
Customer focusThe patient guides every decision
Professionalism & IntegrityEthical, skilled practice
AccountabilityResponsible stewardship
Security & SafetySafe for mothers, babies and staff
TeamworkOne team, every department
Clinical Services
Care for every stage of motherhood
Round-the-clock obstetric, neonatal and diagnostic services delivered by specialised teams.
Labour & Normal Delivery
24-hour skilled birth attendance in well-equipped labour wards, with fetal monitoring and pain-relief options.
Caesarean & Emergency Obstetrics
Operating theatres for planned and emergency caesareans, backed by anaesthesia, blood bank and emergency teams.
Neonatal & Newborn Care
A 144-cot newborn wing with specialised care for pre-term and low-birth-weight babies, resuscitation and newborn screening.
Postnatal & Bonding Care
Early breastfeeding support, skin-to-skin bonding, postnatal checks, wound care and discharge counselling.
Family Planning
Postnatal family planning counselling with a full method mix, screening and adolescent-friendly services.
Why Pumwani
A Level 4 referral facility built around mothers
Always open
Labour, theatres, laboratory and the newborn unit are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Referral-level care
Provincial-hospital status with capability for complex, high-risk pregnancies referred from across the region.
Free & subsidised care
Maternity services are offered free or heavily subsidised to women across the country under government programmes.
Quality-led care
Teams that audit, review and improve every day — respectful, evidence-based maternity care for every mother.
Our Heritage
A century of safe motherhood
From a 27-bed charitable home to the largest maternity hospital on the continent.
1926
Foundation
Founded by the Lady Grigg Welfare League as Lady Grigg Maternity.
1944
Municipal takeover
Handed to the Municipal Council of Nairobi; beds grow 27 → 75 and services expand across the city.
1969
Presidential expansion
President Jomo Kenyatta opens a new block: 117 beds, theatre and a 50-bed neonatal unit.
Today
Africa’s largest
354 obstetric beds and 144 newborn cots, with skilled midwives and doctors on duty every hour of the day.
For Patients & Families
Plan your visit with confidence
Visiting hours
General ward and neonatal visiting windows, plus guidelines for a safe visit.
Admissions & what to bring
Emergency and scheduled admission steps, document checklists and packing lists.
Cost, SHA & cover
How free and subsidised services work, SHA registration and safe payment guidance.
News & Announcements
What’s happening at Pumwani
Service Update
Weekday antenatal clinic services for expectant mothers
Expectant mothers can access antenatal care Monday to Friday. Bring your ID and any previous clinic records.
25 Sept 2026Details
Read full story →
Quality
Ward-by-ward quality audits across all maternity units
Multidisciplinary teams are reviewing maternal and newborn outcomes across every ward, with findings feeding straight into care improvements.
12 Sept 2026Details
Read full story →
Community
Newborn Care Week: free breastfeeding & parenting support
Daily sessions with our nurses on early breastfeeding, skin-to-skin care and newborn hygiene in the postnatal wards.
01 Sept 2026Details
Read full story →
In Their Words
What mothers say about Pumwani
A selection of feedback received through our service desk. Names are shortened to protect privacy.
★★★★★
“The midwives stayed with me the whole night and kept explaining everything. I felt safe and respected from arrival to discharge.”
★★★★★
“My baby was small and needed the newborn unit. The nurses showed me how to express milk and let me stay close the whole time.”
★★★★★
“Waited less than an hour in ANC and everything was in one place — tests, scan and the clinic. Coming back with my next pregnancy.”
Not sure when to come, or need urgent help?
Call our emergency line, staffed every hour of every day — or check the clinic days before you come.