Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is set to completely transition to a fully-fledged national referral facility by the end of January, with the migration of staff, assets and governance structures now at the final stage.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Joshua Clinton Okise said on Thursday that the transition committee had concluded its mandate on December 11 and formally handed over its report to the hospital management board, the State Department for Medical Services and his office.
Speaking to the media at the Kisumu-based facility after a staff meeting, Dr. Okise said the process had focused on three critical pillars — human resource transition, legal compliance, and the transfer of assets and finances to stabilise the hospital following its elevation to a national referral facility.
“The payroll management system has already been fully migrated from the Kisumu County Government to JOOTRH. We are now paying our staff directly, and since the transition, salaries have consistently been paid by the 27th of every month,” he said.
Dr Okise said key human resource instruments required under the new structure including the human resource (HR) manual, career progression guidelines and staff establishment have been developed and approved, laying the groundwork for harmonised grading and remuneration.
Under the new system, he said, staff will not be under the 17 tier public service structure but will be placed on grades ranging from 1 to 14, in line with national standards.
“In early January, we will engage the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to conduct a staff audit and issue new appointment letters. By the end of January, all employees will be officially appointed under JOOTRH letterhead and migrated to the new structure,” he said.
The CEO noted that the transition would result in improved pay for most staff, particularly nurses and support workers, whose salaries had remained low despite increased workload since the hospital’s elevation.
He assured all members of staff on contract who have served for more than one year at the facility that they will also benefit from the new structure by being absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.
On governance and legal compliance, Dr Okise said the hospital had prepared the required statutory documents and compliance certificates, with the board expected to be fully operationalised once remaining members are appointed.
As part of the asset transition, he said all hospital equipment and property have been tagged and documented in preparation for an official handover by the Kisumu County Government in mid-January 2026.
“We are now ready for the formal transfer of assets. This is a critical step in ensuring accountability and continuity of services,” he said.
Dr. Okise said the hospital was also investing in infrastructure and equipment to support its expanded mandate, revealing that about 250 assorted pieces of specialised medical equipment had been procured this year alone.
He said work on a specialized cancer centre would commence in January following allocation of funds in the supplementary budget, with the hospital also reviewing its master plan to expand bed capacity amid rising patient numbers.
“Since our elevation, the facility is almost always full. We are redesigning Jaramogi Referral Hospital to accommodate new buildings and modern facilities to meet growing demand,” he said.
Dr Okise added that JOOTRH had recruited specialist doctors, including a resident neurosurgeon and cardiothoracic surgeons, reducing referrals to facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
The hospital, he added, has also received an ultra-modern ambulance through support from the national government and the World Health Organisation (WHO), strengthening emergency referrals across the wider Lake Region.
“With these systems in place, we are confident that Jaramogi is firmly on course to become a leading referral hub not just nationally, but for the wider East African region,” Dr Okise affirmed.
By Chris Mahandara
