Pumwani Maternity Hospital is one of Nairobi’s major public maternity and referral hospitals, serving patients from across the city and surrounding areas. The hospital is located in Pumwani on General Waruingi Street, on the eastern side of Nairobi’s central area. Nairobi City County identifies it as an obstetric and referral hospital. (Nairobi City County)

For commuters, the hospital’s location places it within the Pumwani–Kariokor–Eastleigh transport network, with General Waruingi Street providing the most important local road connection.

This guide explains how to reach Pumwani Maternity Hospital using Nairobi’s public transport network, including connections from Nairobi CBD, Eastleigh, Juja Road and other parts of the city.

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Where is Pumwani Maternity Hospital?

Pumwani Maternity Hospital is located along General Waruingi Street in the Pumwani/Eastleigh area of Nairobi.

General Waruingi Street is an important inner-city transport corridor connecting Kariokor, Pumwani and Eastleigh with Nairobi CBD and the Juja Road network.

For public transport purposes, the hospital can therefore be understood within this network:

Nairobi CBD → Kariokor → Pumwani → General Waruingi Street → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

The wider corridor also provides connections towards Eastleigh, Pangani, Juja Road, Huruma, Kariobangi and Dandora.

Getting to Pumwani Maternity Hospital from Nairobi CBD

Passengers travelling from Nairobi CBD should look for public transport heading towards Pumwani, Eastleigh or the General Waruingi Street/Juja Road side of the city.

The precise boarding stage may vary according to the operator and route being used, so commuters should confirm the destination with the conductor before boarding.

Rather than asking only for “Eastleigh,” tell the conductor that your destination is Pumwani Maternity Hospital and confirm the nearest useful drop-off point.

The basic journey is:

Nairobi CBD → Kariokor/Pumwani → General Waruingi Street → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

Passengers unfamiliar with CBD boarding points can use the Nairobi Bus Stations, Matatu Stages & Termini Guide together with the Nairobi Matatu Routes and Numbers database.

General Waruingi Street is the key hospital corridor

For Metros’ transport database, General Waruingi Street is the primary road record associated with Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

The street connects Pumwani with Kariokor and Eastleigh while providing access to the wider Juja Road transport network.

Metros’ General Waruingi Street Matatu Routes and Public Transport Guide identifies Routes 6, 14, 28 and 32 among the services associated with the wider corridor. Some vehicles use only sections of the road or nearby streets, so these should not automatically be interpreted as direct hospital-door services. (Metros)

This distinction is important.

A route serving the General Waruingi Street/Pumwani network does not necessarily stop directly outside Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

Passengers should confirm the nearest hospital drop-off before boarding.

Route 6 and Eastleigh connections

Route 6 is one of the services associated with the wider Eastleigh and General Waruingi Street network.

The route connects Nairobi with Eastleigh through the inner-city transport network and can provide access to Pumwani-area connections.

Passengers using an Eastleigh-bound service should specifically ask for Pumwani Maternity Hospital or General Waruingi Street, because Eastleigh covers a large area and different vehicles may terminate at different stages.

Metros’ Eastleigh First Avenue Matatu Routes Guide provides additional information for passengers approaching through Eastleigh.

Route 28 connection

Passengers travelling through the Kariobangi North, Huruma and Eastleigh network may encounter Route 28 as another useful service associated with the General Waruingi Street corridor.

Metros has mapped this service separately in the Route 28 Nairobi–Kariobangi North Guide.

For a Pumwani Hospital journey, passengers should not assume every Route 28 vehicle follows exactly the same operating path.

Ask:

“Does this pass near Pumwani Maternity Hospital?”

or

“Where should I alight for Pumwani Maternity?”

before boarding.

Route 32 and Dandora connections

Route 32 connects into the wider Eastleigh, Kariobangi and Dandora transport network and is another service associated with the General Waruingi Street corridor.

Passengers approaching from that side of Nairobi can consult the Route 32 Nairobi–Dandora Guide when planning the first part of their journey.

Depending on the operating pattern, an interchange or short final connection may still be required to reach the hospital.

Getting to Pumwani Hospital from Eastleigh

Pumwani Maternity Hospital is relatively close to Eastleigh, making the Eastleigh transport network particularly useful for passengers travelling from the northeastern side of Nairobi.

The general connection is:

Eastleigh → General Waruingi Street/Pumwani → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

Passengers starting around First Avenue can use the Eastleigh First Avenue Matatu Routes Guide to understand the surrounding network.

Because Eastleigh has numerous stages, avenues and route variations, use Pumwani Maternity Hospital as the destination rather than simply asking for a vehicle to “Pumwani.”

Getting there from Juja Road

Juja Road is another important feeder corridor for the hospital.

Passengers approaching from areas such as Huruma, Mathare and Kariobangi can connect through the Juja Road–Pumwani–Eastleigh network.

The general journey is:

Juja Road → Pumwani/General Waruingi Street connection → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

The exact interchange depends on the passenger’s starting point and the route operating at the time.

Coming from Kayole and eastern Nairobi

Passengers travelling from Kayole and surrounding eastern Nairobi neighbourhoods may first need to connect towards Juja Road, Eastleigh or central Nairobi before continuing to Pumwani.

The Kayole Junction Road Matatu Routes Guide can help establish the first part of the journey.

A typical network journey may therefore look like:

Kayole → Eastlands interchange → Eastleigh/Pumwani → General Waruingi Street → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

A direct vehicle should only be used where the conductor confirms the hospital or an appropriate nearby stage.

Coming from Westlands

Passengers travelling from Westlands will generally need to connect towards Nairobi’s central transport network before continuing towards Pumwani.

Use the Westlands Transport, Matatu Routes & Stages Guide to identify the appropriate first-stage journey.

The broader connection is:

Westlands → Nairobi CBD/central interchange → Pumwani → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

This is an example of why Metros treats hospital journeys as multi-stage transport records, rather than simply assigning one matatu number to every destination.

Coming from Ngong Road, Kawangware and western Nairobi

Passengers travelling from Ngong Road, Kawangware, Dagoretti and surrounding western Nairobi neighbourhoods will normally need to reach an interchange serving the eastern side of the city.

The Ngong Road–Karen Matatu Connections Guide can be used to identify the first connection.

A typical journey structure is:

Ngong Road/Kawangware → Nairobi CBD → Pumwani/General Waruingi Street → Pumwani Maternity Hospital

Depending on the service available, passengers may be able to make the connection without travelling deep into the CBD, but this should be confirmed at the relevant interchange.

Where should you alight?

The best alighting point depends on the vehicle being used.

Passengers should tell the conductor before departure that they are travelling to Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

The useful instruction is:

“Pumwani Maternity Hospital — General Waruingi Street.”

This is more precise than simply asking for Pumwani or Eastleigh.

If the vehicle does not pass immediately beside the hospital, ask the conductor for the nearest safe and recognised stage from which the final connection can be made.

Finding the correct SACCO or operator

Different operators can serve the same general corridor, and operating patterns can change.

Passengers who want to identify operators serving a particular route can consult the Nairobi Matatu SACCOs, Routes & Destinations Directory.

The useful Metros journey-planning sequence is:

Destination → access road → route → boarding stage → operator/SACCO → alighting point

For Pumwani, that becomes:

Pumwani Maternity Hospital → General Waruingi Street → relevant Pumwani/Eastleigh service → CBD/local stage → operator → hospital drop-off

Travel time and fares

Travel time varies significantly according to the passenger’s origin and congestion around Nairobi CBD, Kariokor, Pumwani and Eastleigh.

Passengers travelling during morning and evening peak periods should allow additional time.

Commercial activity around Eastleigh and surrounding roads can also slow traffic during the day.

Matatu fares vary according to distance, demand, traffic, weather and time of travel.

Fares vary and can change at any time.

Confirm the fare before boarding.

Travelling for maternity or urgent medical care

Pumwani Maternity Hospital is a specialist maternity and obstetric referral facility, and Nairobi City County describes it as a major referral hospital for expectant mothers. (Nairobi City County)

Public transport guidance is useful for routine appointments, visits, discharges and non-emergency journeys.

For a medical emergency, particularly where a pregnant patient requires urgent care, do not delay emergency treatment while attempting to find a matatu route.

Use an appropriate ambulance or emergency response service where necessary.

Metros maintains the Nairobi Emergency Numbers guide and Nairobi Ambulance Services & Emergency Contacts directory for emergency situations.

Pumwani within the Nairobi hospital transport network

Pumwani Maternity Hospital forms part of the wider hospital transport network being mapped by Metros across Nairobi.

Passengers looking for other facilities can start with the Nairobi Hospitals & Emergency Services Guide.

Existing hospital transport records include Kenyatta National Hospital, The Nairobi Hospital, M.P. Shah Hospital, Mater Hospital and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.

Other mapped facilities include Nairobi West Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, Coptic Hospital and Mathari Hospital.

Nairobi emergency information

Pumwani Maternity Hospital is also connected to the wider Nairobi Emergency Services Guide, which brings together hospitals, ambulance services, police, fire and rescue information.

For specific services, use:

Nairobi Emergency Numbers | Nairobi Ambulance Services | Nairobi Police Stations | Nairobi Fire & Rescue Services

Plan your journey to Pumwani Maternity Hospital

For most passengers, the key to reaching Pumwani Maternity Hospital is identifying a service that connects into General Waruingi Street and the Pumwani–Kariokor–Eastleigh transport network.

Start with your origin, identify the appropriate Nairobi route or interchange, and tell the conductor that your destination is Pumwani Maternity Hospital rather than relying only on a route number.

For the wider network, use the Nairobi Matatu Routes and Numbers database, Nairobi Bus Stations, Matatu Stages & Termini and Nairobi Matatu SACCOs, Routes & Destinations.

Hospital → General Waruingi Street → Pumwani/Kariokor/Eastleigh → Route → Stage → SACCO/operator → Nairobi transport network.