Kisumu County Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has lauded President William Ruto and the cabinet for making the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), popularly known as Russia Hospital, a state corporation.

Nyong’o, in a press statement issued on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, said that granting JOOTRH the new status will help the facility receive adequate resources to continue expanding its service delivery in the Lake Region and beyond.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to President William Samoei Ruto and to the Cabinet for making Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital a State Corporation. With its new status, JOOTRH will receive adequate resources to continue expanding its service delivery in the Lake Region and beyond,” Nyong’o stated.

He further thanked the health facility’s leadership for undertaking various reforms that have helped improve service delivery in the institution.

Nyong’o has also pledged to continue supporting and nurturing JOOTRH in the capacity-building needed for effective service delivery.

“I sincerely thank the JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, his staff, and the hospital’s Board of Management for undertaking various reforms that have improved service delivery in the institution exponentially. My government will continue to support and nurture JOOTRH in the capacity-building needed for effective service delivery,” his statement read.

JOOTRH elevated

The cabinet on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, approved the elevation of JOOTRH to a national teaching and referral facility.

The cabinet meeting that was chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, also approved the establishment of JOOTRH as a state corporation.

“President William Ruto chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House on Tuesday, where he updated members on the progress of key transformative infrastructure projects as the country advances its development agenda,” a communique from the Cabinet News read in part.

The facility, which for the past few years has been struggling financially given the huge population it serves, will now be taken over by the national government to enhance service delivery.

As of 2024, JOOTRH was running on own-source revenue, donor funds, and allocations from the County Government of Kisumu despite serving over 10 counties in the region and beyond.

Its elevation to a national teaching and referral facility and its establishment as a state corporation come months after it officially transitioned from a government department to a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA).

JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Lesiyampe in September 2024 announced the SAGA status, noting that the health facility had started operating as a Level 6A facility, providing specialized care and services.