Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has been upgraded to a National Teaching and Referral Hospital and designated as a state corporation. The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto on March 11, 2025.
According to a Cabinet dispatch, the hospital’s elevation means it will now receive direct funding from the National Government instead of relying on county resources. This change is expected to strengthen its operations and improve healthcare services in Kisumu County and the surrounding regions.
With its new status, JOOTRH will play a key role in training medical professionals, including doctors and nurses. It will collaborate with universities and medical training institutions to offer specialized courses and conduct medical research. This move is intended to enhance the quality of healthcare education in the country.
The upgrade is also expected to reduce congestion at major national referral hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. By handling more patients locally, JOOTRH will help distribute the patient load more effectively, improving access to healthcare services in western Kenya.
Patients in the region will benefit from specialized treatment without the need to travel long distances to Nairobi or Eldoret. This will lead to shorter waiting times for critical medical services and better overall healthcare outcomes.
To support its expanded role, JOOTRH will acquire advanced medical equipment and increase its capacity to accommodate more patients. Infrastructure improvements will include constructing new wards and modernizing existing facilities to enhance service delivery.
Additionally, as a state corporation, the hospital will have greater administrative independence. This will allow it to recruit more specialists and healthcare workers, further improving service provision.
The government sees this upgrade as part of a broader strategy to strengthen healthcare services across the country. By increasing access to quality medical care and reducing pressure on existing referral hospitals, the move is expected to create a more efficient and equitable healthcare system.
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