President William Ruto has committed Sh400 million to modernise Kisumu County Referral Hospital, a move expected to transform healthcare delivery in the lakeside city.
The announcement came on Friday at the Kisumu State Lodge during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, following a request from Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, who urged the President to intervene and upgrade the ageing facility.
Oron explained that the hospital, originally built decades ago before independence as a military facility, has long outlived its intended purpose and now struggles to meet the growing demand for medical services.
“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 also lauded the recent elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to Level 6 status, saying the move has improved access to specialised care in western Kenya.
“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 noted that many patients previously had to travel long distances to seek treatment in Eldoret or at Kenyatta National Hospital due to limited local services.
“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,” he said.
Responding, President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure nationwide and called on the Kisumu County Government to join in supporting 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,” Ruto said.
The planned upgrade is expected to expand capacity, improve service delivery, and reduce patient congestion, marking a major step toward better healthcare access in the region.
During the same event, Ruto pledged Sh20 million for the construction of the Kisumu Jamia Mosque in response to calls from Muslim leaders for a modern place of worship.
“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,” he said, adding that Muslim Cabinet Secretaries would also support mobilising additional funds.