The cabinet has approved the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), popularly known as Russia Hospital, to a national teaching and referral facility.
The cabinet meeting that was chaired by President William Ruto on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at State House, Nairobi, also approved the establishment of JOOTRH as a state corporation.
“President William Ruto chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House on Tuesday, where he updated members on the progress of key transformative infrastructure projects as the country advances its development agenda,” a communique from the Cabinet News read in part.
The facility, which for the past few years has been struggling financially given the huge population it serves, will now be taken over by the national government to enhance service delivery.
As of 2024, JOOTRH was running on own-source revenue, donor funds, and allocations from the County Government of Kisumu despite serving over 10 counties in the region and beyond.
JOOTRH SAGA status
Its elevation to a national teaching and referral facility and its establishment as a state corporation come months after it officially transitioned from a government department to a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA).
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Lesiyampe in September 2024 announced the SAGA status, noting that the health facility had started operating as a Level 6A facility, providing specialized care and services.
Lesiyampe also outlined the hospital’s plans to expand its bed capacity to at least 760 beds, ensuring that it can meet the growing healthcare needs of the region.
The gazette notice announcing the SAGA status highlighted JOOTRH’s significance as the oldest and most developed medical facility in the Nyanza region, serving a catchment population of over 10 million people. It had also approved the hospital to provide Level 6A hospital services, pending necessary statutory confirmations.
As a parastatal, JOOTRH will now operate as a government entity handling referrals from within and outside Kisumu County, as it continues to play a vital role in training doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in collaboration with institutions of higher learning.
