By Ng’wono O’Nyakundi
The national government has taken over the construction of the Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital and will eventually acquire new status.
President William Ruto announced that the facility will be upgraded to a national referral hospital upon completion.
Ruto said the government had allocated KSh1 billion to fast-track completion of the project within the next ten months, describing it as a major boost for healthcare delivery in Western Kenya.
“I have told my brother Governor Fernandes Barasa that because this is a big facility, he should allow me to complete it so that the people of Kakamega can have access to a Level Six hospital,” said President Ruto.
Speaking on Sunday after inspecting construction progress, the President said the government would equip the facility with state-of-the-art medical technology to meet national referral standards.
He noted that the hospital would serve as a regional referral centre for counties in the Western region.
It will also complement other national health institutions such as Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
There are also upcoming Universal Health Coverage (UHC) facilities in Kisumu and Eldoret.
“Facilities like this will make universal healthcare a reality. Every Kenyan, regardless of where they live, should have access to world-class medical services,” he said.
The Head of State directed the contractor to employ at least 1,000 young people from surrounding areas to support construction and ensure timely delivery.
“This project will not only enhance health infrastructure but also create jobs for our young people. Let it be built by the hands of those it will serve,” President Ruto emphasised.
The completion of the project is expected to stimulate the local economy, expand access to specialised healthcare, and reduce the burden of medical referrals to Nairobi and Eldoret.
Ruto commended Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya for initiating the hospital project during his tenure as Kakamega Governor between 2013 and 2022.
He also praised Governor Barasa for sustaining the project, noting that development initiatives should transcend political transitions.
“Government is a continuous enterprise. Projects do not belong to individuals; they belong to the people,” he said.
Governor Barasa reaffirmed his administration’s full cooperation with the national government in completing the project and implementing other transformative initiatives in the county.
“We are committed, as a county and as a people, to working with the national government to realise development that improves lives and creates opportunities,” he said.
Also present during the inspection were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Deborah Barasa, alongside senior government officials and local leaders.
The hospital project was launched in 2016 under then Governor Oparanya as part of a long-term plan to establish a modern regional healthcare hub for Western Kenya.
Once completed, the facility will offer advanced medical services, training opportunities for healthcare professionals, and a platform for medical research and innovation.