Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has welcomed President William Ruto’s commitment to equip the newly commissioned Butere County Hospital, terming it a major step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the region.
President Ruto announced that the national government will spend Sh150 million to equip the facility under the National Equipment Service Program (NESP). The program seeks to ensure county hospitals across the country have continuous access to modern medical equipment.
“The national government will spend Sh150 million to equip this hospital, which will be of great help to the people of this constituency and beyond,” Ruto said during the commissioning ceremony in Butere Constituency.
Governor Barasa praised the initiative, noting that it complements his administration’s efforts to enhance healthcare delivery across Kakamega County.
“I committed to completing all projects initiated by my predecessor, Wycliffe Oparanya, because service delivery is my priority. This facility will now serve the people of the southern part of Kakamega,” Barasa stated.
He further appreciated President Ruto’s pledge of Sh1 billion to complete the Kakamega County Referral Hospital, saying the move will ensure residents access full medical services within the county within the next nine months.
Former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya also commended Barasa for finishing the project he initiated in 2022 to address the lack of quality healthcare in Butere, Mumias, Khwisero, and Matungu constituencies.
The NESP replaces the Medical Equipment Service (MES) program that expired in December 2023. Under NESP, vendors supply, maintain, and upgrade medical equipment at no upfront cost to counties, with payments made based on services rendered through a Fee-for-Service (FFS) model.
President Ruto’s visit to Kakamega is part of his four-day tour of Western Kenya, where he is expected to launch infrastructure and development projects, including the Malava–Samitsi–Navakholo and Airstrip–Shinyalu–Chepsonoi roads, aimed at boosting regional connectivity and economic growth.
