Kisumu: The elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Training and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu to a Level Six hospital is on track and proceeding smoothly. Speaking during a tour of the facility, the Principal Secretary for Health, Dr. Fredrick Ouma Oluga, announced that the construction of structures for the hospital's new status will be completed in three months, allowing it to become a full-fledged Level Six hospital.
According to Kenya News Agency, a transition committee is working on plans to recruit a board for the hospital's new status and integrate the staff currently employed under Kisumu County. Dr. Oluga stated that the government has classified the facility at Level C5, the highest grading for government parastatals in Kenya. This upgrade is expected to attract more funding from the government and other sources to improve services.
The hospital, now one of seven Level Six hospitals in the country, will receive funds from the National Assembly and can generate income through lawful means such as performance-based earnings, gifts, grants, donations, and other contributions. Dr. Oluga revealed that part of the Sh3 billion allocated by the government for its elevation has already been received.
Plans are in place to complete the stalled Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) center at JOOTRH, which will serve the Nyanza and Western regions, where SCD cases are rising. Approximately 4.5 percent of children in Western Kenya are born with SCD, and 18 percent carry the sickle cell trait. In Kisumu County, about 32 of every 100 children born annually are affected by SCD, straining families and the healthcare system.
JOOTRH's elevation to Level Six was made official through a special gazette notice on June 18, 2025, making it eligible for direct funding from the National Assembly to improve service delivery. It is the only Level Six facility taken over by the national government from the Kisumu County government, joining the ranks of Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
As a Level Six facility, JOOTRH will offer a wider range of advanced medical services, including specialized surgeries, trauma care, and high-level diagnostics. The hospital, which currently has 900 beds and 954 staff, will expand its staff to 2,500 to address departmental shortages. This will enhance care quality, expand capacity, and facilitate the recruitment of more specialists to meet patient needs.
The transition signifies a significant step in ensuring better healthcare services and facilities are accessible nationwide. JOOTRH will now receive referrals for specialized care from health facilities within and outside Kenya. It will collaborate with the national government on training and research, offering technical assistance to nearby health facilities and conducting healthcare-related research.
This elevation marks an essential milestone for healthcare in the Nyanza and Western regions and across Kenya, transitioning JOOTRH from a county-managed facility to a state parastatal under the Ministry of Health.