Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today visited the Kericho County Referral Hospital Level 5, affirming his commitment to revitalizing the public health system and strengthening public confidence in healthcare services.
Hosted by Kericho Governor H.E. Erick Mutai, the CS toured key departments including the Intensive Care and High Dependency Units (ICU/HDU), Renal Dialysis Centre, and Microbiology Laboratory. During the tour, he received detailed briefings on the hospital’s achievements and the pressing challenges facing the facility.
A central focus of the visit was the ongoing construction of a 260-bed Non-Communicable Disease Centre (NCDC). Hospital leadership appealed for national government support to complete the centre, which is expected to house seven fully-equipped theatres and ICU units with inbuilt dialysis capabilities. Once completed, the NCDC will serve as a cornerstone in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the region.
CS Duale praised the hospital’s recent advancements in neonatal care, describing the progress as a testament to the dedication of healthcare workers. He emphasized the importance of expanding specialized medical training to improve healthcare outcomes and service delivery nationwide.
“The future of healthcare lies in digitization, innovation, and strong collaboration across all levels of government. Kericho is a model for what can be achieved through commitment and community support,” said Duale.
He also noted ongoing reforms in the health sector, including the digitization of health services and the rollout of disease surveillance vehicles in all 47 counties. The CS lauded Kericho’s impressive enrollment in the Social Health Authority (SHA), with over 390,000 residents registered and the hospital serving an estimated 1.5 million patients from Kericho and neighboring counties.
In a significant moment during the visit, Hon. Duale presented the hospital with its official land title deed. This move is expected to protect the institution from future land encroachment and facilitate future expansion and infrastructure development.
The tour was attended by several leaders, including Kipkelion East MP Hon. Joseph Kirui, Ainamoi MP Hon. Benjamin Kipkirui, and Kericho Senator Hon. Aaron Cheruiyot.
