By Habil Onyango
During President William Ruto’s visit to Homa Bay County one and a half months ago, he promised that his government would set up a Sh500 million Homa Bay Hospital Surgical Block at Homa Bay Level 5 Referral Hospital.
This followed a request by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga for the facility to help strengthen the county’s healthcare system, expand its capacity to deliver specialised services, and ensure patients receive care in facilities that uphold their dignity.
It was in this spirit that the county leadership engaged His Excellency President Ruto, who committed to supporting the expansion of this hospital through the Ministry of Defence.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the President made his promise a reality after the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Soipan Tuya, EGH, presided over the groundbreaking and handover of the site for the proposed facility at Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital.
According to the CS, “a healthy population is a foundational driver of economic growth and development.”
“I presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Homa Bay Hospital Surgical Block at Homa Bay Level Five Referral Hospital, marking an important step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Homa Bay County,” noted Tuya.
“Through the Kenya Defence Forces, the Ministry of Defence will oversee the construction of the 140-bed facility,” she said.
The CS revealed that the block will provide modern medical services, including maternal and child health, accident and emergency, critical care (ICU and HDU), operating theatres, radiology and laboratory services.
She added that upon completion, the facility will expand access to specialised healthcare and reduce referrals outside the county.
She said the project is also expected to generate approximately 300 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs during construction, while creating business opportunities for local suppliers.
“This investment reflects the Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare under Universal Health Coverage (UHC).”
Tuya, PS Hon. Patrick Mariru, and the leadership of the Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Defence Forces were joined by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang.
Also in attendance were Homa Bay Town Constituency MP Hon. Peter Kaluma, Kabondo Kasipul MP Hon. Obara Eve Akinyi, and other national and county officials.
Wanga thanked the CS and her team for presiding over the event, saying their presence builds confidence in the strong partnership between the two levels of government and their shared commitment to improving the lives of the people they serve.
“The proposed Surgical Block is a major investment in the future of healthcare in Homa Bay since it will expand our surgical capacity, ease pressure on the existing wards, improve patient flow, and create a more appropriate environment for specialised surgical services.
“This intentional investment will strengthen Homa Bay County’s healthcare system, expand capacity to deliver specialised services, and ensure patients receive care in facilities that uphold their dignity. This handing-over ceremony starts our journey to attaining Level 6 status,” she said.
HTRH was established in 1969 as a dispensary and has since grown over the decades into a Level 5 hospital with a bed capacity of 311.
According to Wanga, it is a critical pillar of the county’s healthcare system, serving the people of Homa Bay and patients from neighbouring counties and the Lake Region.
“When we assumed office in 2022, we prioritised healthcare and recognised that the hospital’s infrastructure needed urgent attention to match its growing role and the increasing demand for services,” she said.
“We made deliberate investments in improving the referral facility, beginning with the replacement of the old outpatient department with a modern building that restored dignity to the institution and improved service delivery. We improved the maternity services to appreciable standards and installed a CT scan machine,” she noted.
Wanga said that the Surgical Block investment builds on additional progress made in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and specialised services across Homa Bay County.
“We have completed a modern funeral parlour at the County Referral Hospital, providing families with dignified and culturally appropriate services. We are working towards completing the multi-storey Accident and Emergency Block by the end of this year to enhance emergency response and ease pressure on our hospital,” she said.
Specialised care
According to the Governor, in specialised care, the county has installed five more dialysis machines, significantly expanding renal services and bringing life-saving treatment closer to patients who previously had to seek care outside the county.
The hospital has also been equipped with advanced laparoscopic, echocardiographic and endoscopy systems, strengthening its capacity to provide modern surgical, cardiac and diagnostic services.
“Since then, the number of patients seeking outpatient and inpatient services has increased more than threefold,” said Wanga.
“This reflects growing public confidence in our health system, but it has also placed considerable pressure on existing infrastructure,” she said.
For our patients, this means better access to surgical care and improved conditions for treatment and recovery.
“Our vision for Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital is to transform it into a centre of excellence in specialised healthcare, medical education and research,” she said.
Wanga revealed that, as a county, they intend to deepen partnerships with universities, medical training institutions and research organisations to expand specialised services, promote medical research and build the capacity of healthcare workers.
According to Senator Kajwang, the project marks a significant step in transforming healthcare for the people of Homa Bay and the region.
He said that, alongside the ongoing development of the Accident and Emergency Complex and other key initiatives, the project will establish the hospital as a regional referral hub for specialised healthcare services.
“We look forward to a facility with the ability to provide emergency response services, trauma care, surgical services, as well as oncology and palliative care, ensuring that our community has access to quality healthcare,” he said.
