Health CS Unveils Plan to Modernize Referral Hospitals

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, has launched a sweeping reform to modernize national referral hospitals by strengthening governance, scaling up patient‑safety measures, and improving overall service delivery. During a high-level meeting with Chief Executive Officers of Kenya’s major referral institutions, Duale directed hospital leaders to formalize plans for upgrading critical infrastructure, eliminate poor practices like patients sleeping on floors, and ensure bed‑capacity data is updated to reflect real capacity.
The initiative is backed by the National Equipment Services Programme (NESP), under which some referral hospitals will receive advanced medical equipment. For example, Moi County Referral Hospital in Taita Taveta is poised to get MRI machines, digital X-ray units, dialysis units, and fully equipped theatres. In addition, several regional hospitals are slated for upgrades thanks to a recently secured KSh 1.8 billion Chinese grant, which will go toward improving facilities at Londiani Referral Hospital, Baringo County Referral Hospital, and Kilifi Hospital, among others.
Security and quality assurance in referral hospitals have also come under renewed focus. Following a breach at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), CS Duale announced stricter visitor screening, limited visitation, and mandatory security protocols. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health will roll out a comprehensive patient‑safety framework that includes routine safety audits, anonymous feedback from patients and staff, and ongoing training for healthcare workers.
Looking ahead, this reform marks a strategic push toward decentralizing tertiary care. By equipping key referral hospitals and improving institutional governance, the Ministry of Health hopes to strengthen Kenya’s health system backbone, reduce over-congestion in flagship facilities, and restore public trust in national referral services. If implemented fully, these measures could significantly improve access, quality, and safety in Kenya’s highest-level public hospitals.