Acting Chief Executive Officer JOORTH, Dr Joshua Clinton Okise. Faith Matete Kisumu County Public Service Board chairperson Dr James Obondi hands over documents to the chair of the JOOTRH Non-Executive Board, Dr Olango Onudi. Faith Matete Kisumu County Public Service Board chairperson Dr James Obondi during a discussion at JOORTH facility. Faith Matete
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a new staff establishment for the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), paving the way for an expanded workforce of 1,805 employees as the facility transitions into a Level Six referral hospital.
According to the approved structure, 1,545 positions, about 86 per cent of the total workforce, will be technical roles, while 260 positions, representing 14 per cent, will cover administrative and shared services.
The approval marks a major boost for the hospital, which currently has about 1,200 staff.
Once fully implemented, the expanded workforce is expected to strengthen service delivery and enhance JOOTRH’s capacity to offer specialized care.
The new staff establishment forms part of a package of human resource instruments handed over by Kisumu County Public Service Board chairperson Dr James Obondi to the chair of the JOOTRH Non-Executive Board, Dr Olango Onudi.
The documents were later presented to the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Joshua Clinton Okise.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by Kisumu County Public Service Board CEO Bill Omondi and board member Ruth Koga.
The approved instruments include a 14-tier grading system, career progression guidelines, and a human resource policies and procedures manual tailored specifically for the hospital.
JOOTRH’s revised organisational framework is anchored on five directorates which includes Clinical Services, Integrated Health Services, Nursing Services, Training and Research, and Corporate Services.
The Chief Executive Officer’s office will directly supervise Corporate Communications, Supply Chain Management, and Legal Services.
Overall, the hospital will operate through 25 divisions aimed at improving clinical outcomes and reinforcing JOOTRH’s position as a centre of excellence in specialised healthcare.
Receiving the instruments, Dr Onudi praised the technical team for their work, noting that JOOTRH was the only institution among several applicants to secure approval for its human resource instruments.
He said the hospital, as a specialised facility, required customised frameworks rather than relying solely on generic national government policies.
Dr Okise on the other hand said the transition process remained within the six-month timeline, adding that the next key step would involve engagement with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to secure approval for staff remuneration.