West Pokot County Governor Simon Kachapin has officially inaugurated new Boards of Management for Kapenguria County Referral Hospital and the sub-county hospitals of Kacheliba, Chepareria, and Sigor.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Governor’s Residence in Kapenguria, brought together county leaders, health officials, outgoing and incoming board members, members of the County Assembly, and healthcare stakeholders in an event that underscored the county government’s commitment to strengthening governance in public health institutions.
The appointments come following the enactment of the West Pokot County Facilities Improvement Fund (FIF) Act, 2025, whose Section Nine (9) establishes Hospital Management Boards, mandated to provide oversight, guide financial management, and ensure that revenue generated by health facilities is reinvested into improving healthcare services.
Speaking during the event, Governor Kachapin said the newly inaugurated boards will play a critical role in ensuring hospitals remain accountable while supporting professional health managers in delivering quality services.
“Our hospitals are among the most important public institutions in this county. Every day they serve men, women, and children who depend on them for treatment and care. The decisions you make should always put the interests of patients first,” said the governor.
He reminded the new board members that their responsibility extends beyond administration to providing strategic leadership, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.
“The quality of healthcare our people receive depends not only on the investments we make, but also on the leadership entrusted with managing our facilities. I challenge you to lead with integrity, strengthen accountability, work closely with healthcare workers, and ensure that patients remain at the heart of every decision,” he added.
Governor Kachapin noted that his administration has made significant investments in expanding health infrastructure, equipping hospitals with modern medical equipment, recruiting healthcare workers, and improving the supply of essential medicines.
He observed that devolution has transformed healthcare in the county through increased employment of doctors, nurses, and specialists to serve the growing population.
“We have employed more healthcare professionals than ever before. If we had additional financial resources, we would recruit even more because many qualified young people from West Pokot remain unemployed despite possessing the skills our health sector requires,” he said.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to constructing more health facilities, particularly in remote areas where residents have historically traveled long distances to access healthcare.
During the ceremony, Governor Kachapin congratulated the newly appointed Chairpersons, including Charles Alisoreng (Kapenguria County Referral Hospital), Moses Lotimu (Chepareria Sub-county Hospital), Dominic Kapaw (Sigor Sub-county Hospital) and Michael Makari (Kacheliba Sub-county Hospital).
“I am confident that, working together, we will strengthen our health institutions and improve the quality of healthcare services across the entire West Pokot County,” he said while officially inaugurating the boards.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Claire Parklea, thanked Governor Kachapin for his unwavering support towards transforming healthcare services across the County.
She said the County Administration’s deliberate investments in infrastructure, equipment, and human resources had greatly improved healthcare delivery.
“The governor has demonstrated visionary and hands-on leadership that has enabled tremendous progress within the health sector. We are now witnessing better-equipped facilities, improved staffing levels, and stronger systems that continue to benefit our residents,” said Claire Parklea.
She urged the newly appointed boards to embrace teamwork, transparency, and accountability while working closely with healthcare workers and the Department of Health.
“The Facility Improvement Fund Act provides an excellent opportunity for our hospitals to retain and reinvest their revenues where they are most needed. The boards now have the responsibility of ensuring those resources directly translate into better patient care, improved infrastructure, and quality services,” she added.
Outgoing Kapenguria County Referral Hospital Board Chairman, Dr. Philip Parklea, reflected on the tremendous progress achieved during his two terms in office, describing the journey as one that transformed the hospital into a nationally recognised institution.
“When we assumed office, we had a vision of making Kapenguria County Referral Hospital a modern and efficient healthcare facility. Today, the hospital stands as one of the success stories in Kenya,” he said.
Among the landmark achievements, Dr. Parklea highlighted the hospital’s digitisation programme, making it the first public hospital in the North Rift region to become fully paperless.
Patient admissions, billing, medical records, and discharge processes were digitised, while CCTV surveillance systems, computerized cash registers, and modern information systems significantly enhanced efficiency and accountability.
He revealed that improved governance and financial management saw hospital revenue rise from approximately Sh3 million per quarter to nearly Sh67 million per quarter by the time the outgoing board completed its tenure.
The Board also oversaw installation and upgrading of critical medical equipment, including CT scan services and an oxygen generation plant whose production capacity increased from 70 liters per minute to 550 liters per minute, complete with piped oxygen to various wards, while an MRI facility and a modern diagnostics center are nearing completion.
Despite the achievements, Dr. Parklea acknowledged existing challenges.
“Water remains one of our biggest challenges. Some wards still experience water shortages, sanitation remains difficult in certain sections, and some pit latrines still exist. We must continue investing until these gaps are fully addressed,” he noted.
He further challenged healthcare workers to remain committed to their duties.
“Health is about saving lives. Every employee must play their part with dedication because good infrastructure alone cannot deliver quality healthcare without committed personnel.”
He urged the incoming boards to maintain integrity, uphold accountability, and build upon the progress already achieved.
Incoming Kapenguria County Referral Hospital Board Chairman, Charles Alisoreng, vowed to continue the transformation initiated by his predecessors.
“We appreciate the strong foundation laid by the outgoing board. Our responsibility is to build upon these achievements and progressively move the hospital from its current level to even higher standards of healthcare excellence,” he said.
Alisoreng called upon all Sub-county hospitals to intensify registration of residents under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying health insurance remains key to ensuring affordable access to quality healthcare.
He also raised concern over the rising cases of teenage pregnancies across the county, explaining that underage expectant mothers without national identification cards can still access maternal healthcare through temporary SHA identification issued within a day.
“No mother should be denied healthcare because she lacks an identity card. The temporary SHA identification ensures expectant teenagers receive antenatal care and safe delivery services,” he explained.
The inauguration marks the beginning of a new chapter in the management of West Pokot’s public health facilities, with the newly appointed boards expected to provide strategic oversight, strengthen governance, and ensure healthcare resources are efficiently utilized for the benefit of residents.
As the county continues investing in hospitals, modern equipment, medical supplies, and skilled personnel, leaders expressed confidence that strong governance will translate into improved service delivery and better health outcomes for communities across West Pokot.
By Parklea Ivor
