The issuance of new appointment letters and the nod backdating staff salaries officially marks the end of the long-awaited staff transition to level 6 status at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).

Making the announcement, the Ag. CEO Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise stated that the comprehensive exercise would also see staff who were previously undeservedly graded properly graded, giving them a well-deserved opportunity to finally earn what they truly deserve.

The milestone brings to a close a rigorous process aimed at positioning the premier referral facility for enhanced institutional autonomy and operational excellence.

According to Dr. Okise, the hospital will commence the issuance of several critical categories of letters starting. These include letters transitioning staff previously under the County Government into the permanent JOOTRH establishment, letters appointing eligible contract staff into Permanent and Pensionable positions.

Dr Okise also announced that letters communicating salary reviews and placements within the newly approved JOOTRH salary structure, and letters correcting progression and placement anomalies for staff whose grades required regularization following a thorough Job Evaluation Exercise, will be issued.

The Chief Executive assured the workforce that all approved salary differentials and adjustments would be paid in arrears, demonstrating management’s commitment to fairness, equity, and employee welfare.

The transition process involved extensive stakeholder consultations—including engagements with staff, management, unions, and government agencies—and was guided by a Technical Human Resource Transition Committee. The hospital also engaged JDAC Consultants to undertake an organizational review to align its workforce structure with its strategic objectives.

Invoking the biblical transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, Dr. Okise reminded the staff that transition is merely a preparation for the ultimate destination.

“The transition process was never the destination. The destination is excellence. The destination is improved patient outcomes,” Dr. Okise emphasized. “Our challenge now is not transition; our challenge is performance.”

With the human resource framework now firmly established, the hospital management has urged staff to shift their focus toward clinical excellence, digital health solutions, and accountability to cement JOOTRH’ s status as a benchmark national referral and teaching institution.

The Chairperson of the Human Resource Management Advisory Committee (HRMAC), Dr. Paul Mitei, applauded the dedication and resilience demonstrated by the various teams that drove the transition process.

He acknowledged the Human Resource Directorate, technical committees, management, staff representatives, and all stakeholders who devoted their time and expertise through numerous meetings, consultations, and reviews to ensure the successful completion of the exercise.

He noted that the achievement reflected the collective effort and commitment of everyone involved in the process

The session culminated in the recognition of retiring officers, including former Hospital Management Team (HMT) members, who received awards in appreciation of their years of dedicated service and contribution to the growth of JOOTRH.

This news was received with jubilation; the staff now awaits implementation.