Access to specialised brain and spine surgery in western Kenya has received a major lift after Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) deployed a second neurosurgeon.
This breaks years of strain that left thousands of patients competing for a single specialist.
The Kisumu-based facility has welcomed Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. William Owiti, a highly trained specialist with more than 10 years’ experience in neurosurgery, spinal surgery and skull-base operations.
He was received by Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise, who termed the move a major milestone in specialised health care in the region.
The arrival of Dr. Owiti marks a critical shift for JOOTRH, which has been struggling with a growing queue of patients needing tumour removals, trauma surgeries, spinal repair and congenital corrections.
“This is about giving patients a chance for better outcomes without the long delays and expensive referrals,” Dr. Owiti said after reporting to the hospital.
Dr. Owiti trained at Moi University before advancing his studies in England and working with leading global institutions, including the European Board of Neurosurgery, McMaster University and the Royal College of Surgeons.
Kenya has fewer than 50 practising neurosurgeons serving a population of more than 50 million people, forcing many patients to travel long distances or wait months for lifesaving surgeries.
In western Kenya, the shortage has been more pronounced, with Maseno University’s Dr. Lee Ogutha being the only neurosurgeon handling all referrals from Kisumu and the neighbouring 13 Lake Region counties.
JOOTRH has spent the past two years attempting to close the gap through neurosurgical camps held every three months in partnership with the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative.
During the camps, hundreds of patients are screened and dozens operated on. Some sessions have seen up to 40 surgeries completed using three operating theatres, drastically reducing waiting lists.
Patients who would previously wait months have been able to receive treatment locally at much lower cost than in private facilities, where neurosurgical bills could rise to millions.
The next neurosurgical camp is set for November 24 to December 3, with screening already underway at the consultant clinic.
Patients are required to be fully registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to benefit.
With two neurosurgeons now stationed at the hospital, JOOTRH expects shorter referral chains, more emergency cases treated locally, and steady expansion of specialised brain and spinal care in western Kenya.
The development comes as the hospital continues transitioning into a national referral facility under the Ministry of Health, a shift that is expected to attract more specialists and advanced equipment.
By Chris Mahandara
