President William Ruto has pledged Sh400 million for the upgrade of Kisumu County Referral Hospital, offering renewed hope for improved healthcare services in the lakeside city.
The announcement was made on Friday at the Kisumu State Lodge during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, following an appeal by Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, who urged the Head of State to intervene and modernise what he termed an ageing facility.
Oron noted that the hospital, originally constructed decades ago before independence as a military facility, has since outlived its design and now requires a comprehensive overhaul to meet current healthcare demands.
“The hospital was built many years ago for a completely different purpose, and today it is overstretched and in urgent need of modernisation,” Oron said.
He expressed gratitude to the President for the recent elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to Level 6 status, saying the move had significantly improved access to specialised care in the region.
“We thank the President for upgrading Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital. It has restored dignity and given hope to residents of western Kenya,” he added.
Oron observed that, in the past, many patients from the region were forced to travel long distances to seek treatment in Eldoret or at Kenyatta National Hospital due to limited services locally.
“With this new investment, Kisumu County Referral Hospital will ease pressure on Jaramogi and ensure that even those who cannot access it still receive quality care,” Oron said.
In response, President Ruto affirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country, while calling on the Kisumu County Government to partner in the project.
“The national government has set aside Sh400 million for the upgrade, and I urge the county government to also contribute so that we deliver a modern facility for the people of Kisumu,” said Ruto.
The planned upgrade is expected to improve service delivery, expand capacity, and reduce patient congestion, marking a significant step towards better healthcare access in the region.
President Ruto also pledged Sh20 million towards the construction of the Kisumu Jamia Mosque, responding to calls from Muslim leaders for a modern place of worship in the city.
“You have said that we should build a mosque called Jamia. I will give you Sh20 million as a starting amount. After that, you will organise another fundraising effort to help push this matter forward,” Ruto said.
He added that Muslim Cabinet Secretaries would also participate in mobilising additional funds.