By Reporter
The long wait to operationalise a Sh200M hospital in Kisumu’s Seme Sub-County will finally come to an end.
The long-dormant 200-bed Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Holo, Seme Sub-County, will finally be operationalised following a strategic joint partnership, with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) being a key player.
The coalition—comprising JOOTRH, the National Government, Kisumu County Government, the Office of the Seme MP, and the Da’Wah Development Group—has agreed to fast-track the project.
They target to open the outpatient department (OPD) by December.
The hospital, constructed in 2013 for nearly Sh200 million through donor funding from the UAE-based Dar Al Ber Society and commissioned in 2017, has remained largely unused due to administrative and operational hurdles.
The breakthrough comes after Seme MP Dr James Nyikal, who chairs the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health, brought key stakeholders together to resolve the deadlock. During a recent site assessment, developers led by Mr Abdulqadir Omar showcased consultation rooms, a pharmacy, an X-ray unit, wards, a laundry, a mortuary, and water infrastructure.
“In Islam, we say every delay has a blessing in it,” Mr Omar said, expressing optimism over the renewed commitment.
Kisumu County Health Chief Officer Dr Ojwang’ Lusi called for urgent execution to enhance healthcare access across Seme and surrounding regions. JOOTRH Ag CEO Dr Joshua Okise emphasised that opening the facility aligns with the institution’s strategy to expand community-centred healthcare, outreach, and mental wellness programmes.
To guarantee swift execution, a joint implementation committee co-chaired by Dr Lusi and Dr Okise has been established.
Renovation and equipment costs will be jointly funded by the National Government and partners. The committee’s immediate priority is delivering a functional OPD on the ground floor of the three-storey complex by December, before progressively opening the remaining sections.
