Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused President William Ruto’s administration of failing to implement the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to a National Level 6 facility, saying the declaration has remained a political statement without the necessary reforms, funding and institutional changes.
Mr Sifuna said President Ruto’s proclamation upgrading the Kisumu-based hospital to a national referral facility had not been matched with corresponding changes in its management structure, staffing, funding and operational capacity.
The ODM Secretary-General argued that the upgrade should have transformed JOOTRH into a national institution similar to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), with expanded resources, autonomy and improved terms for healthcare workers.
“Ruto made a proclamation elevating Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to a National Level 6 hospital, which would make it a parastatal like KNH, but the functions and staff were not adjusted commensurate with this,” Mr Sifuna said.
According to the senator, the failure to operationalise the elevation has denied the hospital and its employees the benefits that should accompany the new status.
“This makes the elevation mere words without action. It also stops JOOTRH enjoying the benefits, funding and capacity expansion that should come with its new status,” he added.
Mr Sifuna said healthcare workers at the facility were among those affected by the delay, as the transition was expected to address their employment terms and career progression.
“The staff need this upgrade effected in order to transition their employment status,” he said.
The criticism comes months after President Ruto announced the elevation of JOOTRH as part of his administration’s plan to strengthen specialised healthcare services and decentralise access to advanced medical treatment.
The upgrade was expected to position the Kisumu hospital alongside the country’s top referral facilities, allowing it to handle more specialised procedures, attract additional resources and expand training and research capacity.
However, Mr Sifuna said the government’s failure to complete the administrative and financial processes required to implement the decision had reduced the announcement to a public relations exercise.
The remarks are likely to reignite debate over the government’s delivery on healthcare promises, with opposition leaders increasingly questioning whether presidential directives are being followed through with actual budgetary allocations and institutional reforms.
JOOTRH serves as a key referral facility for the western Kenya region and neighbouring counties, handling thousands of patients seeking specialised treatment. Its elevation has been viewed as a critical step towards reducing pressure on Nairobi-based referral hospitals.
Mr Sifuna’s criticism adds to wider opposition claims that the government has announced several projects and policy changes without providing the resources required for full implementation.
The government is yet to publicly respond to the senator’s claims on the status of the hospital’s transition and the measures being taken to align staffing, funding and administration with its new classification.
