By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 14 January 2026 - Kisumu County is taking a decisive leap in pediatric healthcare with the groundbreaking of a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
The facility, unveiled on Wednesday, 14th January 2026, seeks to address a critical shortage of specialized care for newborns and children in the Lake Region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said the new unit is more than a construction project.
“This is about taking head-on a long-standing injustice in our health system: the absence of specialised critical care for our most vulnerable citizens—our newborns and children; our society’s tomorrow,” he said.
The Lake Region Economic Bloc, serving nearly 15 million people, has long struggled with centralised pediatric critical care.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic expanded adult ICU capacity, pediatric and neonatal intensive care did not receive equivalent attention,” the governor noted.
Nationwide, fewer than 20 public Pediatric ICU beds exist, concentrated in Nairobi, forcing families from the Lake Region to travel hundreds of kilometers for urgent care.
JOOTRH recently operationalized its first 10-bed PICU/HDU, but capacity remains limited. Governor Nyong’o highlighted the human cost: “Approximately one-third of pediatric deaths in our region occur within the first 24 hours of admission. These are not deaths from incurable conditions—they result from delayed or inadequate access to critical care at the most decisive moment.”
He also underscored local health challenges, noting that “in Kisumu County, the sickle cell carrier rate is close to 32 percent, exposing many children to life-threatening crises that require continuous monitoring and advanced supportive care. Malaria and sepsis remain leading causes of pediatric admissions with sharply reduced survival rates in the absence of Pediatric ICU support.”
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The new NICU is a partnership with the Safaricom Foundation, which Governor Nyong’o described as “strategic social investment…strengthening public institutions and delivering lasting impact.” The initiative is part of a broader county plan focusing on three pillars: infrastructure, human resources, and appropriate technology.
“We aim to ensure reliable oxygen supply, uninterrupted electrical systems, and physical space that meets clinical standards,” said Governor Nyong’o.
“We are also addressing the shortage of intensivists and specialized nurses through targeted training and deployment, while transitioning from improvised adult equipment to neonatal and pediatric-specific devices.”
Dr Joshua Clinton Okise, CEO of JOOTRH, hailed the NICU as a milestone in the hospital’s journey toward Level 6A status.
“This facility will not only save lives, but also reinforce JOOTRH’s position as the leading referral hospital for the Lake Region,” he said.
Dr Olang’o Onudi, Chairperson of the JOOTRH Board, praised the collaboration, noting, “Partnerships like this ensure that public health investments are both sustainable and directly impactful for the community.”
Governor Nyong’o concluded with a message to the people: “No child should have to travel to Nairobi or Eldoret to survive a treatable condition. Once up and running, these services are for the newborn struggling to breathe, the child battling severe infection, and the parent seeking hope in the most difficult hour.”
With the NICU, Kisumu County is sending a clear signal: child health is a priority, and equitable, life-saving care is no longer just a dream—it is becoming a reality.
