Lawmakers push for referral hospitals in Coast, Eastern regions

Parliament has launched a fresh push to compel the Ministry of Health to establish at least one national teaching and referral hospital in every region.

This is in an effort to expand access to specialised medical services and reduce preventable deaths linked to long travel distances.

In a motion currently before the Senate, lawmakers want the ministry — led by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale—to earmark funding for the construction, expansion and equipping of new referral facilities across the Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, Nyanza and Western regions.

The senators argue that the existing national referral system is overstretched and disproportionately concentrated around Nairobi, leaving millions of Kenyans without timely access to advanced care.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla, who moved the motion, said lack of regional referral hospitals has contributed to numerous preventable deaths.

“Many patients have died on the way to hospitals because of the distance,” she said.

“We want health services closer to our people, especially the specialised and referral services required for terminally ill patients and those needing emergency interventions.”

Kenya currently has five national teaching and referral hospitals: Kenyatta National Hospital (Nairobi) and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (Kiambu).

Others are Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Eldoret), Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital (Nairobi) and the National Spinal Injuries Referral Hospital (Nairobi) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

This imbalance, senators said, forces patients—particularly those suffering from cancer, mental illnesses, chronic conditions and severe injuries—to travel long distances for services that their local hospitals are not equipped to handle.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei underscored that health is a basic right and must be accessible to all Kenyans regardless of where they live.

“If you think about cancer or mental health issues, right now the most dependable mental health facility in the country is Mathari,” he said.

“What happens to people who are far from Nairobi and its environs?” he asked, warning that patients in rural and marginalised regions face the highest risk.”

The motion further calls on the Ministry of Health to not only build the facilities but also “fully equip the national teaching and referral hospitals with modern medical equipment, adequate medical supplies, and sufficient personnel” to ensure they meet global standards of care.

Senators emphasised that building structures alone would not solve the systemic challenges facing the health sector.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch stressed the urgency of expanding specialized treatment, noting that chronic diseases are on the rise and require advanced diagnostic and management capabilities.

“We are going to save many lives if we can have a myriad of these national referral hospitals taking care of bigger issues, including the chronic diseases that are straining our current health system,” he said.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi echoed these concerns, saying the current state of many county hospitals is “horrible” and cannot sustain the growing demand for specialised care.

He cited governance lapses, inadequate staffing and mismanagement of resources as recurring problems across devolved health units.

“There are all manner of governance issues in our hospitals. If it is an issue of how to manage staff, that problem is common across all county hospitals,” Osotsi said.

He said national-level referral hospitals would complement rather than replace devolved health facilities.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu said regional referral hospitals would also ensure equitable distribution of national resources.

“Counties should benefit from the funds left at the headquarters. One of the ways for counties to benefit is for the national government, through these funds, to establish referral hospitals in the regions, equip them and engage professionals,” he said.

If approved, the motion would require the Ministry of Health to develop a comprehensive plan outlining timelines, financing models, staffing strategies and partnerships to roll out the proposed regional teaching and referral hospitals.

Senators insist the project is long overdue and could significantly improve health outcomes across the country.