Story by Lorraine Anyango and Sherine Atieno
Photos by Ondari Ogega
Staff at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have received firm assurances regarding their job security following the hospital’s recent elevation to a national State Corporation.
All personnel employed at JOOTRH as of June 18, 2025—the date of the gazettement—will automatically transition into the new national parastatal framework. These employees will become the pioneer staff of the institution in its new status.
During a celebration held to mark this milestone, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Public Service, County Administration, and Public Participation, Mr. Salmon Orimba, reassured staff that no personnel from the national health ministry would displace them. He emphasized that the Kisumu County Government would continue paying salaries for approximately 460 staff until the National Government fully takes over payroll responsibilities.
One of the immediate benefits for employees will be a 40–50% salary increment starting July 1, 2025, for 461 contracted and casual staff.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, called on staff to remain patient and focused during the transition period. He noted that the Public Service Board will guide the process of staff establishment and categorization, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) will streamline salary structures. The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) will oversee the creation of a dedicated pension scheme for JOOTRH employees.
The CEO thanked the County Government of Kisumu for its unwavering support—particularly His Excellency Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who has championed the hospital’s elevation for nearly a decade. He also acknowledged key contributors to the journey, including the hospital board, staff, partners, and community. Special recognition was given to Mr. Festus Achilla and Mr. Herbert Okalo for their tireless advocacy.
Infrastructural and technological improvements are underway at JOOTRH. Recent upgrades include a CT scan, mammogram, ultrasound, and the upcoming installation of a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine. Dr. Lesiyampe urged staff to match these advancements with excellent customer care, timely service delivery, and compassionate patient care. In his closing remarks, he quoted Robin Sharma: “The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live.”
The official gazette notice under Part VII: Transitional and Savings Provisions, Clause 29 (Staff Transition), affirms:
“A person who immediately before the commencement of this order holds or is acting or is an employee or staff of the former hospital shall be deemed to hold the same office or its equivalent under the hospital on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the board.”
Acting Chair of the JOOTRH Board of Directors, Mr. Festus Kasuku Achilla, extended his gratitude to the national, county government and the entire JOOTRH staff for their collective efforts that culminated in the hospital’s elevation, calling the move a “game-changer” for Nyanza and Western Kenya with far-reaching socio-economic impact.
Representatives from key national institutions, including the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), and Social Health Authority (SHA), joined in commemorating the occasion. They lauded JOOTRH’s strategic role in serving both local and cross-border patients.
The transition process will include assessments by agencies such as the Public Service Commission, the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC), and SRC to finalize staffing, grading, job groups, and pension arrangements.
JOOTRH now embarks on a transformative journey, poised to become a benchmark national health institution committed to excellence, equity, and innovation.
