President William Ruto has officially gazetted the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to national referral status, marking a significant milestone for healthcare delivery in the Lake Region and beyond. The decision was formalised in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated June 18, 2025.
Previously managed by the Kisumu County Government, JOOTRH will now operate as a state parastatal under the Ministry of Health. This follows the Cabinet’s March 18 approval to upgrade the facility, popularly known as “Russia Hospital,” into a Level 6 hospital the highest tier in Kenya’s healthcare system.
With this designation, JOOTRH joins an elite group of national referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, among others.
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda lauded the move, thanking President Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga, and Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o for their roles in achieving the milestone. Governor Nyong’o had earlier supported the Cabinet’s decision, highlighting that years of reforms had laid the groundwork for the hospital’s elevation. He assured continued support through capacity-building efforts.
JOOTRH CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe called the gazettement long overdue and transformative. “This transition will allow us to enhance care quality, expand our capacity, and recruit more specialists,” he said. He also noted that the hospital, with a 900-bed capacity, is currently operating with only 954 staff, far below the required workforce of 2,500. The Ministry of Health is expected to deploy a team to accelerate the transition process.
Lesiyampe underscored that national referral status would bring greater autonomy, more direct funding, and improved access to high-end medical equipment. The facility is now poised to offer advanced services such as specialised surgeries, trauma care, and complex diagnostics to patients from across Kenya.
The elevation of JOOTRH signifies a crucial investment in decentralised healthcare and a step forward in realising equitable access to quality medical services nationwide.
