The Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital project will be completed in the next 10 months, President William Ruto has assured.

Ruto made the promise on Sunday, November 2, 2025, while inspecting the progress of the proposed national referral hospital during his ongoing tour of the western region.

Derelict project

The project has stalled for almost a decade, prompting the intervention of the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations.

According to Ruto, the project has been boosted by the injection of a KSh1 billion allocation.

“With Ksh1 billion allocated to the project, we have assured the county government and residents of Kakamega that the hospital will be completed in 10 months,” Ruto said in a statement on his Facebook page.

Commitment

“We will ensure we complete this project for the interest of the health requirements of the people of Kakamega County and this region,” he said.

Ruto’s promise also extended to the Community Health Workers (CHW), where he pledged to pay all the dues owed by the government.

The head of state hailed the medical personnel for their critical role as frontline soldiers, ensuring the public is sensitised on health issues.

His remarks come a month after parliamentarians expressed concerns about the project that remained incomplete nine years after construction began.

Health Committee concerns

In a statement by the Senate posted on its official X account on Friday, October 3, 2025, the Senate revealed that its Standing Committee had begun inspecting the status of stalled development projects.

“The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, led by Wajir Senator Mohamed Abass, is currently in Kakamega County inspecting the status of stalled development projects,” the statement reads.

“The committee is putting a spotlight on projects like the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, which is still incomplete nine years after construction began,” the Senate said.

The hospital was meant to serve as a lifeline for residents across the region, providing advanced medical care and easing pressure on existing facilities. However, the delay has left thousands of families still depending on overstretched health centres and smaller hospitals.

Residents have long expressed frustration over the slow pace of development, saying the projects were launched with promise but have since turned into symbols of neglect. For the Senate committee, the Kakamega inspection is part of its wider oversight role, ensuring that stalled projects across the country are scrutinised and those responsible held accountable.