Senators probe 9-year delay in Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital project
By Kiprono Keileb, October 3, 2025The Senate has turned its attention to stalled development projects in Kakamega County, with the spotlight on the long-delayed Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
In a statement by the Senate posted on its official X account on Friday, October 3, 2025, the Senate said the Standing Committee is currently in Kakamega County 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 highlighted that one of the biggest concerns is the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, which has remained incomplete for close to a decade.
“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.
The Senate said the committee is also examining other projects that have been halted or delayed for years.
“Also under the Committee’s microscope are the Shamakhubu Level IV Hospital and key infrastructure like the Butali-Malekha Road and Kuvasali Water Project,” the statement added.
These projects were expected to improve healthcare access, open up rural areas, and boost water supply in communities, but their current state has raised serious concerns. The committee’s visit aims to establish why these investments remain unfinished despite huge amounts of public money being pumped into them.
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.
By putting stalled works under the microscope, the committee hopes to push for answers and quick solutions, so that vital hospitals, roads, and water systems can finally serve the people they were intended for.