Construction of the long-awaited Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital is on course for completion by December 2026, according to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
Providing an update on the project on Tuesday, Omollo said the 750-bed Level 6 facility in Lurambi Sub-County is steadily taking shape and is expected to become one of the largest referral hospitals in western Kenya once operational.
The multi-billion-shilling project was originally launched in 2016 under the administration of former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. However, construction stalled before being revived after the project was transferred to the national government.
Major boost for specialised healthcare
The facility is being developed as a regional centre for advanced medical care, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances in search of specialised treatment.
According to Omollo, the hospital will feature an oncology centre equipped with radiotherapy bunkers and linear accelerators for cancer treatment.
It will also include a modern maternal and neonatal wing with operating theatres, delivery suites, and neonatal intensive care services.
Critical care units, renal treatment facilities, haemodialysis services, intensive care units, and blood banking infrastructure are also part of the project.
In addition, the hospital will house a diagnostics and emergency block designed to provide round-the-clock emergency services.
Training hub for future health professionals
Beyond patient care, the hospital is expected to play a key role in training healthcare workers in the region.
Omollo said the facility has been designed to serve as a teaching and research centre for Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and other medical training institutions.
The project is expected to strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce pipeline by offering practical training opportunities for medical students and professionals.
Thousands of jobs expected
Once fully operational, the referral hospital is projected to create more than 5,000 jobs across clinical, technical, administrative, and support services.
Officials say the facility will not only improve access to specialised healthcare but also stimulate economic activity in Kakamega County and neighbouring regions.
The latest update comes as the government continues investing in health infrastructure across the country, including the expansion and upgrading of hospitals aimed at improving healthcare access and supporting the implementation of Universal Health Coverage.
With completion now targeted for the end of the year, residents and healthcare stakeholders are looking forward to the opening of a facility expected to transform medical services across western Kenya.
