Jaramogi Oginga Odinga hospital elevated to level C5 parastatal
By Joel Masibo, September 15, 2025The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu County has been elevated to a Level C5 parastatal, a status previously reserved for public universities.
Announcing the upgrade during a visit to the facility on Monday, September 15, 2025, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga said the shift from county to national status must be felt immediately, urging the management to embrace its new mandate.
Furthermore, Oluga explained that the elevation is meant to attract and retain skilled health workers while positioning the hospital for financial sustainability, noting that national referral hospitals will no longer receive tax-based funding within five years.
He called for diversification of revenue through clinical research, grant-writing, and the establishment of a modern simulation centre to improve training while generating income. The PS emphasised a people-first strategy, prioritising staff welfare, patient safety, and community health.
Ouma Oluga also urged JOOTRH to strengthen follow-up care and develop a public health strategy to address preventable diseases that burden the region.
He challenged specialists at the health facility to mentor junior staff and revealed that a new hospital board will be appointed by month’s end.
“This facility is expected to change the story of health in this region,” he said.
Duale in Vihiga County
Elsewhere, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on Monday, September 15, 2025, led the Ministry’s top leadership in Vihiga County regarding the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The programme includes a health caucus sensitisation forum, a tour of the Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital, and a public engagement to enlighten residents on the benefits of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Insisting on the importance of SHA to the public, Duale, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, said the Ministry is committed to realising full implementation of the health cover amid reports of fraud.
”Through the Social Health Authority (SHA), Kenya will sustainably raise about Ksh90 billion annually from our own local revenue, without borrowing a single cent. In addition, hospital equipment valued at over Ksh200 billion has been mobilised through an innovative leasing programme. These resources are the backbone of our Universal Health Coverage (UHC) journey, ensuring that every Kenyan can access modern, well-equipped health facilities and quality care close to home,” he said via X.