Kericho: Health services have officially resumed at the Kericho County Referral Hospital after months of extensive renovations and modernization works that began in June, marking a major milestone in the County’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
According to Kenya News Agency, the refurbishment project, spearheaded by the County Government of Kericho, sought to enhance patient safety, expand service capacity, and modernize health infrastructure. The improvements mark a new chapter for the hospital as it reopens fully for both inpatient and outpatient services, ushering in a new era of quality healthcare for residents of Kericho and the wider South Rift region.
In a statement, Kericho County Governor, Dr. Eric Mutai, confirmed that all services at the Kericho County Referral Hospital have fully resumed, emphasizing that the transformation marks a new chapter in the delivery of efficient, reliable, and people-centered healthcare in the County. Dr. Mutai revealed that the hospital had undergone major infrastructural upgrades, including the removal of asbestos, the construction of a new, modern kitchen, and general renovations across multiple departments.
Dr. Mutai noted that one of the most significant developments in the reopening is the installation of a new 128-slice CT scanner, replacing the previous machine that was damaged in a fire incident. This upgrade greatly enhances the hospital’s diagnostic capacity by enabling faster, more precise, and more reliable imaging services for patients.
The Governor further highlighted that the ISO-certified world-class laboratory is now fully operational alongside the renal unit, orthopedic and maternity departments, specialized clinics, ICU, and general wards, all of which have been upgraded to meet modern healthcare standards. These departments are now equipped to serve the community with enhanced efficiency, safety, and patient comfort.
Dr. Mutai reaffirmed that emergency services remain operational 24 hours a day to ensure that critical care is always within reach. He emphasized that the goal is to prevent loss of life due to delayed medical attention, with the upgraded facility now fully equipped and ready to handle emergencies promptly and deliver timely, high-quality interventions.
As part of broader reforms in the County’s health sector, Dr. Mutai announced that Kericho had recently achieved a major breakthrough in healthcare digitization. Through the Department of Health Services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Digital Health Agency, Kericho adopted the digitization of all the County health facilities under the TaifaCare platform.
A total of 532 digital gadgets were dispatched to health facilities across Kericho County, reaffirming the County’s position as one of the leading early adopters of digital health innovation in Kenya. This initiative is expected to enhance service delivery, improve access to medical services, and streamline operations across all public health facilities in the County. The TaifaCare Tibabu platform integrates electronic medical records, mobile enrolment, claims processing, and real-time payments through a centralized Health Information Exchange System that enables seamless data sharing across facilities.
