Recent upgrades at Kericho County Referral Hospital have elevated it to a Level 5 facility, expanding its capacity to deliver specialized healthcare. New equipment and services now allow residents to receive treatment closer to home, rather than traveling to hospitals in Eldoret and Tenwek.
The improvements have also changed the experience of some patients who have used the facility for years, although residents say more services, equipment, and medical personnel are still needed.
Kericho County Referral Hospital was upgraded from a Level 4 to a Level 5 facility in October 2023, following an investment of about KSh210 million by the national government. The upgrade was formally launched on October 17, 2023, and included improvements to expand the hospital’s capacity to provide specialized healthcare.
As part of the 2023 improvements, the hospital received facilities including an Oncology Centre, an Oxygen Concentration Plant and a Biosafety Level 3 tuberculosis laboratory. The elevation to Level 5 was intended to reduce the need for patients from Kericho and the wider South Rift to travel to other counties for specialized treatment.
The hospital underwent another major renovation programme in 2025, which included asbestos removal, reroofing and improvements to facilities such as the kitchen. The works began after the hospital was temporarily closed, with services resuming after completion.
Further investment has continued this year, with the county reporting additional medical equipment being supplied to health facilities. Kericho County Referral Hospital also acquired a 128-slice CT scanner after a fire damaged the previous machine.
Services and Patient Care Have Improved
Catherine Nafula, a resident of Kericho, says she has received treatment at Kericho Referral Hospital for a long time and has witnessed changes in the quality of services offered.
Also Read: Kericho Coffee Farmers Narrate How Electricity Ended Years of 6 pm Closures
She says patients are now attended to better, undergo more thorough examinations and receive improved treatment. Laboratory services have also improved, with more tests now available at the facility.
Catherine, however, says the hospital should further expand its testing capacity, particularly by introducing more cancer screening services and tests for diseases such as cholera.
She believes access to more diagnostic tests would help patients identify illnesses earlier and begin treatment before their conditions worsen.
She also wants the hospital to employ more qualified doctors to ensure patients receive adequate medical attention.
According to Catherine, admission services were previously a major challenge, with some patients left without proper attention. She says the situation has improved and believes the hospital is moving in the right direction on patient care.
Kericho Hospital Modern Equipment Has Reduced Referrals
Dr Rotich Joseph, a resident of Kericho, says the hospital has grown into an important referral facility for residents across the South Rift.
He says the availability of specialized services such as CT scans and dialysis has reduced the need for patients to travel to Eldoret and Tenwek for treatment.
The modern equipment, he adds, has also improved how doctors examine and diagnose patients, allowing them to identify illnesses more accurately before determining the appropriate treatment.
“Where we are today, it is the best hospital we have in the South Rift because it is serving thousands of people, unlike the past when they used to serve a few people,” said Dr Rotich.
He said the hospital now has more equipment and that congestion has reduced, as more patients can receive treatment in Kericho instead of being referred elsewhere.
Dr Rotich believes the facility could become even stronger if the government continues investing in it over the next decade.
He wants the hospital equipped with additional machines, including MRI equipment, and more technicians trained to operate modern medical equipment.
He recalls that limited diagnostic services in the past forced many patients to seek treatment outside Kericho, creating an additional financial burden for families.
For patients who could not afford to travel for specialized care, the lack of access to treatment could have devastating consequences.
Health Improvements Give Long-Term Patients Hope
While improvements at Kericho Referral Hospital are changing healthcare in the county, patients needing specialized, long-term treatment still depend on larger referral facilities.
Bernard Juma, a boda boda rider from Uasin Gishu, has been undergoing treatment for more than 10 years after being diagnosed with malignant teratoma in 2014.
He continues to receive treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he says improvements in the health sector have given patients like him hope.
Bernard says the government’s efforts to improve healthcare, including through the Social Health Authority (SHA), could help more patients access treatment, medicine and modern medical equipment.
“As the government continues to improve the healthcare sector, having machines, medicines and doctors’ salaries provided on time, as well as timely support through SHA, will help many patients.” he said.
One of the challenges he has experienced is delays in receiving confirmation messages and long queues at health facilities.
However, the ongoing expansion of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital gives him hope that patients will eventually have access to more space, beds and specialists.
Bernard believes continued investment in healthcare will make it possible for more Kenyans to access advanced treatment locally instead of traveling abroad.
For patients who have spent years navigating the healthcare system, he says the expansion of facilities, availability of equipment and growth in specialist services offer hope for a better future.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
