President William Ruto has appointed Dr. Charles Olang’o Onudi as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), marking a new phase of leadership at the region’s top medical facility which was recently upgraded to a national referral hospital.
The appointment was made through a gazette notice dated November 7, 2025, and will run for a three-year term effective immediately.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 7 (1) (a) of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Order, 2025, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Olang’o Onudi (Dr) to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, for a period of three years, with effect from November 7, 2025,” read part of the gazette notice.
Dr. Onudi brings decades of public administration experience, having served in various senior positions within the national government and Kisumu County Government, including Director of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and member of the County Executive Committee and later as acting County Secretary.
He was officially received at the facility by Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joshua Okise, who assured him of full support from the hospital’s management and staff.
Okise welcomed the appointment, saying it comes at a time when the hospital is undergoing transformation to strengthen specialized healthcare services, medical research, and staff capacity development.
“We have a dedicated team of professionals committed to upholding the hospital’s vision and delivering quality, accessible healthcare to the people of this region and beyond,” Okise said.
Speaking shortly after assuming office, Dr. Onudi pledged to offer strategic leadership to enhance the hospital’s performance and governance.
“I have come to join the team, and I’m here to support the team to achieve its vision,” he said. “My goal is to build on the foundation laid by the County Government of Kisumu and identify other areas that will enable this institution to fully achieve its mandate.”
Dr. Onudi emphasized the need for collaboration between the hospital board, the county and national governments, and other health stakeholders to position JOOTRH as a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery, training, and research.
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital serves as the main tertiary medical facility in western Kenya, catering to patients from Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, and parts of Nyanza and western regions.
The hospital is also an accredited teaching and research centre affiliated to Maseno University’s School of Medicine and several other health training institutions.
It offers advanced diagnostic, surgical, and specialized treatment services, including oncology, renal care, orthopaedics, and critical care.
In recent years, JOOTRH has embarked on infrastructure upgrades to expand its bed capacity, modernize laboratory and imaging services, and digitize patient management systems.
These initiatives are part of broader efforts to align the facility with Kenya’s universal health coverage goals.
As Non-Executive Chairperson, Dr. Onudi is expected to provide oversight and policy guidance to the hospital’s management board, strengthen governance systems, and drive long-term strategic planning.
His leadership will also focus on ensuring resource mobilization and efficient utilization to sustain the hospital’s operations as it transitions into a national referral hospital and state parastatal under the Ministry of Health.
The appointment comes at a time when the national government is prioritizing reforms in public health institutions to enhance accountability, efficiency, and service delivery under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Dr. Onudi’s tenure is expected to reinforce JOOTRH’s position as a model regional referral hospital advancing medical education, research, and quality healthcare for the communities it serves.
By Chris Mahandara
