Kisumu leaders have welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Health to elevate the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to national referral status, calling it a historic milestone for healthcare in the region.
The upgrade, formally gazetted by President William Ruto on June 18, 2025, marks a significant shift in the hospital’s mandate.
JOOTRH, which has long served as the largest referral facility in the western region, will now operate as a state parastatal under the Ministry of Health. The move comes three months after the Cabinet approved the proposal on March 18.
The announcement was published in a special edition of the Kenya Gazette dated June 18, 2025, three months after the Cabinet approved the proposal on March 18.
Previously under the management of the Kisumu County Government, JOOTRH popularly known as “Russia Hospital” will now operate as a state parastatal under the Ministry of Health, with the move expected to significantly enhance healthcare delivery across the Lake Region and Kenya at large.
With this elevation, JOOTRH joins the ranks of Kenya’s elite national referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, and the National Spinal Injury Hospital.
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has on June 19, 2025 lauded the announcement, saying while thanking the President for the important move.
“Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has finally been gazetted as a Level 6 facility. Thank you, President William Ruto, Raila Amolo Odinga, and Anyang’ Nyong’o.” He stated.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who had welcomed the Cabinet’s decision in March, praised the transition as a well-earned recognition of years of institutional reforms aimed at improving service delivery.
“We’ve laid the groundwork over the years to prepare JOOTRH for this elevation. The new status means more resources, better services, and wider reach within and beyond the Lake Region,” said Nyong’o.
He affirmed that the county government would continue to support the hospital through capacity-building and development initiatives.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe has also hailed the upgrade as a long-overdue milestone. He noted that national referral status gives the hospital greater autonomy and direct access to government funding for infrastructure, staffing, and equipment.
“This is a monumental step for JOOTRH,” Lesiyampe stated. “It will allow us to improve care quality, expand our capacity, and recruit more specialists to meet growing patient needs.” He said.
Currently, JOOTRH has a bed capacity of 900 and a workforce of 954. Dr. Lesiyampe revealed that the hospital is pushing to raise staff numbers to 2,500 to address shortages across departments.
A team from the Ministry of Health is as well expected to visit the facility soon to fast-track the transition process.
What the Upgrade Means
As a national referral hospital, JOOTRH will now provide more advanced medical services such as Specialised surgeries, Trauma and emergency care and High-level diagnostic services
The elevation is also expected to boost research, training, and specialist outreach programs in the wider Nyanza region.
