President William Ruto has announced that the national government has officially taken over the construction of the Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital. The move is part of the government’s plan to expand access to advanced healthcare across the Western region.
Speaking on Sunday after inspecting the ongoing works, President Ruto revealed that the government has allocated Sh2 billion for the hospital’s completion. The project is expected to be finalized within ten months and will be upgraded to a national referral hospital (Level Six) once completed.
“I have told my brother Governor Fernandes Barasa that because this is a big facility, he should leave it to me to complete so that the people of Kakamega can have access to a Level Six hospital,” Ruto stated.
The Head of State said the hospital will be fully equipped with modern medical equipment, ensuring residents of Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, and neighbouring counties access specialized healthcare services without traveling long distances.
Ruto was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Deborah Barasa, as well as Governor Fernandes Barasa during the inspection tour.
The President also directed the contractor to employ a significant number of local youth to accelerate completion and create jobs during the final phase of construction.
He commended former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for initiating the project in 2016, calling it a visionary move toward improving healthcare in the region.
“Thank you, Mr Oparanya, for thinking big,” Ruto said, adding that Governor Barasa also deserves credit for continuing the project. “Government is a continuous enterprise. Projects do not belong to individuals; projects belong to the people.”
The completion of the Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital marks a major step toward strengthening Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services nationwide.
