Bungoma: Plans to establish a Sh.8 billion Level Six teaching and referral hospital in Bungoma County have entered the home stretch after the project cleared critical regulatory and technical hurdles, paving the way for commencement of construction works in the coming months. The proposed facility, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is set to be built at Sichei in Kimilili Sub-County to ease pressure on existing referral hospitals in the region and spare thousands of patients the costly journeys to Eldoret and Nairobi for specialized treatment.
According to Kenya News Agency, the milestone was marked during a final appraisal meeting at the project site, attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, Bungoma County Government, and financiers, where progress was reviewed ahead of the anticipated groundbreaking ceremony. Ministry of Health representative Hossan Ajuk stated that the national government was keen to fast-track the implementation of the project to improve access to specialized healthcare services in Western Kenya and neighboring countries.
Ajuk highlighted that despite the region’s large population and strategic location, residents have relied heavily on referral hospitals outside the region for advanced treatment for decades. He emphasized that Bungoma’s position near the Kenya-Uganda border and its growing population makes it an ideal location for a major referral facility, serving not only Western Kenya but also patients from Eastern Uganda and the wider Great Lakes region.
He noted that the approval by the government and Cabinet of this project was timely and added that consultants contracted to undertake the feasibility study had completed their assignment and submitted a favorable report, effectively clearing the final technical hurdle before construction begins. The studies were part of the Kenya Health Infrastructure Support Project supported by the AfDB.
During the meeting, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka described the project as transformative, saying it would revolutionize healthcare access and stimulate economic growth in the county. He mentioned that the project is a game changer for the people, as it would eliminate the need for long travel to Eldoret and Nairobi to seek services.
Governor Lusaka pointed out that the facility would complement ongoing efforts to establish advanced referral services in the wider Western region, including the near-complete Level Six Hospital in Kakamega, thereby strengthening specialized healthcare capacity for millions of residents across the region. He also mentioned that Bungoma’s central location within the regional transport network and its proximity to neighboring countries would make the facility a natural referral hub for cross-border patients and specialized medical services.
The governor noted that the hospital’s location near Matulo Airstrip would improve emergency evacuation and referral services once the airstrip is upgraded under separate plans by the national government. To support the project, the county government will construct a 2.3-kilometer road to bitumen standards linking the facility to the Kimilili road network to ensure seamless access for patients, medical personnel, and suppliers.
He added that the hospital would also benefit students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Chwele Campus by providing opportunities for clinical training and specialized medical research. Beyond healthcare, the project is expected to spur rapid urban growth around Sichei, attract private investment, and create hundreds of jobs during construction and operational phases.
Governor Lusaka urged leaders against politicizing the project to ensure it is completed as scheduled.
