Experts from the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) are expected to arrive at Kakamega Level Six Referral Hospital from today for the construction of the stalled Sh10billion health facility following the handover of the facility to the state.
Speaking on Saturday at the Pentecostal Assembly of God (PAG) Church Women Forum in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega town, Governor Fernandes Barasa said officers from KDF will be touring the site to resume the construction of the mega project as directed by President William Ruto.
"From Monday, our soldiers from KDF will be in our county to resume the construction and completion of our level six hospital, which is expected to be completed in the next six months," said Barasa.
He added, "Once completed, the facility is going to offer direct and indirect job opportunities to 3,000 people, which will boost our local economy besides improving the provision of healthcare in the region."
The governor also called on the locals to register under Barasa Care, a health scheme he said is meant to improve the maternal health care and the health system at large.
"We have a program to improve the healthcare of our mothers. I am urging our women to register under the Barasa Care Program so that we can improve our healthcare system. Beneficiaries of this program will get Sh12,000 after going through all the required processes," said Barasa.
The construction of the 750-bed-capacity facility in the Western region, and one of the flagship projects by former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, stalled four years ago.
However, last year, Barasa successfully engaged with President William Ruto for the National government to take over the project, which he opined that once completed, it will improve the provision of healthcare in the Western region and spur the economy of the county alongside job creation.
Barely two weeks ago, Governor Barasa, together with Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga and Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, toured the site and reaffirmed the government's commitment to complete the facility in the next six months.
“I have engaged the President for the completion and equipping of our facility, and I want to assure our people that this facility will be constructed as of next week, and the team leading the exercise will finish the construction in six months. This means by February next year, our hospital will be up and running,” said Barasa.
The site visit came barely two months after engineers from the Ministry of Defence visited the project for inspection.
Barasa noted that the 750-bed capacity ultra-modern health facility will also be home to the only cancer centre serving the western region and beyond.
Under the new arrangement, the national government has allocated Sh500million while the county government of Kakamega has set aside Sh300million for the completion of the mega facility.
“The national government has allocated Sh500million while the county government has put in Sh300million towards completion of the hospital,” said Barasa.
Defence PS Mariru assured locals that the facility will be constructed with a high standard, professionalism and it will be completed on time, revealing that once complete, the facility will serve the western region counties, that is, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Trans Nzoia, and Kakamega.
Health Medical Services PS Oluga, noted that the hospital will bring expert services closer to the people of Kakamega.
He added that the hospital will be equipped through the National Equipment Support program that was recently launched by the national government.
According to the construction plan, phase one was to be completed in June 2018, but the completion was extended to December 31, 2020.
Once completed, the hospital will serve as a referral facility for specialised treatment for patients from the former Western province.
Currently, patients from Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, and Kakamega counties seeking specialised medication have to travel to either Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret or Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.
