Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has reiterated the government's commitment to ensure the completion of Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Nakhumicha on Friday made a tour to the county accompanied by Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula and other leaders from the county.
Savula disclosed that the county was in discussion with investors from India to provide financial support to equip the facility.
Savula acknowledged President William Ruto's commitment of Sh200 million from the supplementary budget to expedite civil works at the facility.
Nakhumicha announced plans to set up a multi-agency team to assess the readiness of the stalled facility for upgrading to a Level Six Hospital.
She noted that the hospital is significant as the primary public referral hospital for Kakamega County and neighbouring counties.
The facility is expected to serve as a referral hospital in the former Western province in the counties of Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga once completed.
Expressing confidence in the project, Nakhumicha highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive approach, including effective management upon completion.
In November last year, Nakhumicha pledged to form a multidisciplinary team to look into the issues surrounding the completion and running of the stalled hospital.
"Having visited the project myself on two occasions, that project is huge, and I will put together a multidisciplinary team from the ministry,” Nakhumicha said.
The facility was 90 per cent complete when it stalled in February 2021 after the county government failed to pay completion certificates amounting to more than Sh500 million.
The contractor stopped the work and pulled out of the site.
The first phase of the 750-bed capacity facility gobbled Sh2.3 billion.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale had expressed concern that the county government had pulled out of the project leaving it under the mercies of vandals from both the county and the public.
“What has happened is that the county government has pulled out of that hospital, the construction has stopped, security for the project has been removed and now what is happening is that there is vandalism both from employees of the county government and the public,” Khalwale told the Senate.
During her visit to the region on Friday, Nakhumicha emphasized the importance of unity among Western leaders to prioritize the hospital's completion.
The CS further assured approval for the construction of the Kenya Medical and Training College in Butere.
She said the college will primarily be funded by the National Government Constituency Development Fund.
