President William Ruto has officially gazetted the elevation of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu county to a national referral hospital.
The announcement was made in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated June 18, 2025, three months after the Cabinet approved the proposal.
The upgrade follows a Cabinet decision on March 18 that endorsed the elevation of the facility, popularly known as Russia Hospital and located in Kisumu City.
Previously managed by the County Government of Kisumu, JOOTRH will now operate as a state parastatal.
As a result, the hospital will be overseen by the Ministry of Health, a move expected to significantly improve healthcare service delivery in the region and across the country.
With this elevation, JOOTRH joins the ranks of Kenya’s national referral hospitals, which include Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, National Spinal Injury Hospital, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
On June 19, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda welcomed the move, stating:
“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.”
In March, Kisumu Governor Anyang'’ Nyong’o welcomed the Cabinet’s decision, noting that the new status would enable JOOTRH to receive adequate resources to expand services within the Lake Region and beyond.
He added that the county government had implemented various
reforms over the years to improve service delivery and lay the foundation for
the hospital’s elevation.
In a statement to the media, Nyong’o emphasised that his administration would continue to support and nurture the facility through capacity-building programs aimed at further enhancing service delivery.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe hailed the hospital’s upgraded status as long overdue.
He noted that the elevation places JOOTRH among the
highest-tier medical institutions in the country, positioning it as a critical
player in the national referral system.
As a national referral hospital, he said, JOOTRH will now offer a wider range of advanced medical services, including specialised surgeries, trauma care, and high-level diagnostics, to serve patients from across Kenya.
Lesiyampe added that state parastatal status would provide the hospital with more autonomy in management and improved access to government funding for infrastructure and equipment.
Having led the hospital for one year, Lesiyampe expressed gratitude for the milestone:
“This is a monumental step for JOOTRH. The transition to a national referral hospital and parastatal will allow us to enhance the quality of care, expand our capacity, and recruit more specialised medical professionals to meet the growing needs of our patients.”
