The Kisumu County Government has officially opened a new state-of-the-art maternity theatre at the Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH) and unveiled the facility’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, a double milestone in the region’s ongoing healthcare transformation.
Speaking during the launch on Monday, Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Ochieng Owili, who read Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o’s speech, described the event as a “historic moment” in Kisumu’s health journey. He said the county’s progress in healthcare had been “one of vision, consistency, and commitment,” emphasizing continued investment in infrastructure, equipment, staffing, and service delivery.
“The new maternity theatre will reduce waiting times, improve surgical outcomes, and save countless lives,” said Dr. Owili.
The fully renovated KSh19 million facility is equipped with modern surgical technology and designed to handle both routine and emergency maternal cases, a development expected to ease congestion that previously saw surgeons and obstetricians share one operating theatre.
“Over the past three years, the County Government has invested in training and retaining specialists, many of whom are now deployed to this facility,” Dr. Owili noted, adding that KCRH currently serves with two general surgeons, three obstetricians, two physicians, and one pediatrician.
He further highlighted the hospital’s complementary role alongside the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), recently upgraded to a Level 6 parastatal. “While JOOTRH focuses on specialized and referral services, our goal is to ensure KCRH complements it, providing accessible, quality care closer to the people,” he said.
Governor Nyong’o, in his message, praised the hospital’s staff and management for their dedication, saying, “Allow me to congratulate the outstanding team at KCRH, whose commitment and excellence have transformed health outcomes across our great county.”
He also underscored Kisumu’s growing leadership in medical technology, recalling the county’s establishment of the first public DNA and PCR Molecular Diagnostic Platform in the region. “This innovation has strengthened our diagnostic capacity, enhanced disease surveillance, and positioned Kisumu as a leader in public health innovation,” he noted.
Unveiling the Kisumu County Referral Hospital Strategic Plan 2025–2030, Dr. Owili described it as “a roadmap, a promise, and a tool for transformation.” The five-year blueprint focuses on improving service delivery, expanding infrastructure, enhancing human resources, promoting partnerships and innovation, and ensuring financial sustainability.
The county also announced that construction of a new outpatient complex, which will host an Accident and Emergency Unit and outpatient services, will begin next year. Plans are underway to build a new inpatient complex to consolidate all wards under one block.
“In our pursuit of excellence, digitization remains a key pillar of transformation in Kisumu’s health sector,” Dr. Owili said, revealing that 80 percent of the county’s health information integration is complete and expected to be finalized by November.
“As we open these doors today, we are also opening new possibilities for our people, possibilities for better treatment, faster recovery, and renewed hope,” he concluded.
