LIKUYANI, Kakamega County — President William Ruto has announced plans to upgrade Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital and Garissa County Referral Hospital to Level 6 facilities under the National Government, in a move aimed at expanding access to specialised healthcare.
Ruto said the government had already invested KSh1 billion to complete stalled construction works at the hospital in Kakamega.
He explained that the facility would subsequently receive funding from the National Government, allowing resources previously allocated to it by the county government to be directed towards other health facilities.
“The funds from the county government that were going to the hospital will now go to other facilities,” he said.
The President said the two hospitals would improve access to quality healthcare for residents in their respective regions.
Government Allocates More Funds for Hospital Equipment
Ruto said the government had spent KSh300 million equipping hospitals across Kakamega County and planned to invest a further KSh1 billion to equip additional facilities.
He also said 1.15 million residents of Kakamega County had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
According to the President, KSh4.8 billion had been disbursed to the county over the preceding 18 months.
He cited Magusi health facility as an example of how SHA payments were supporting healthcare providers based on the patients they treated.
“We send money every month from SHA to this small hospital here called Magusi. When they treat 50 people, we send them funds for 50 people,” he said.
Ruto made the announcements during Sunday Mass at St Mark’s Catholic Church in Marunda, Likuyani Constituency, Kakamega County, where he was accompanied by local MPs.
KSh17 Billion Road Investment Announced for Kakamega
The President also announced that the government was investing KSh17 billion in road construction across Kakamega County.
He said funding had been secured for the Mawe Tatu–Fafaro road, where construction was already underway, adding that the works would be accelerated.
Ruto further announced that construction of the Matunda–Brigadier road would begin soon.
Other projects he outlined included the Turbo–Nzoia River–Sikhendu road and the Moi’s Bridge–Matunda road, which will pass through the County Aggregation and Industrial Park.
He also announced plans to expand the Maili Tisa–Kitale road.
On the wider transport network, Ruto said construction of the Mau Summit–Malaba road would begin in 2027 as a four- and six-lane highway intended to ease congestion and support regional economic activity.
Likuyani to Get KSh100 Million University Project
Ruto announced plans to provide KSh100 million towards the construction of a university in Likuyani Constituency.
He said the investment formed part of the government's wider development agenda aimed at expanding opportunities and improving access to public services.
The President also defended affordable housing, arguing that higher-density housing could help reduce pressure on agricultural land caused by fragmentation.
“We want to preserve enough land for growing food and cash crops, and keeping livestock,” he said.
Sugar Farmers Set for KSh1.2 Billion Bonus
The President said reforms in the sugar sector had enabled factories such as Nzoia Sugar to pay farmers on time.
He also announced that KSh1.2 billion would be paid to farmers as a bonus in November.
The planned payments are expected to provide additional income to sugarcane farmers in the region, although the payment schedule and eligibility details were not provided in the announcement.
Ruto also commended farmers in Western Kenya and the Rift Valley for increasingly taking up coffee farming.
He said the government had made KSh2 billion available for coffee seedlings to support the expansion of production.
Ruto Calls for National Unity
During his address, the President said he was committed to ending what he described as discriminatory and divisive politics, arguing that national resources should benefit all regions.
“There are people who are angry at me because I have national resources must go to every part of the country. We are all equal before our Constitution,” he said.
He also called on Kenyans to reject tribalism, hatred and discrimination ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ruto criticised those he accused of sponsoring opposition leaders to frustrate his development agenda.
Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe praised the administration's development projects in the region, citing roads, stadia, affordable housing and markets.
He questioned the development record of previous administrations in Likuyani.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe also commended the government over changes in coffee prices, saying the reported increase from KSh50 to KSh150 per kilogram would benefit farmers.
The President's announcements covered healthcare, transport, education and agriculture, with the proposed Level 6 referral hospitals among the major projects highlighted during his visit to Kakamega County.
