Kericho County witnessed a high-level government visit on May 9, 2025, as Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Musalia Duale, toured the County Referral Hospital to review progress on health sector reforms and infrastructure development. The visit underscored the national government’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). CS Duale emphasized ongoing initiatives, including the rollout of Social Health Authority (SHA) registration, digitization of health services, and the operationalization of the Taifa Care Model to enhance service delivery across the county.
During the visit, CS Duale announced plans for a Level 6 Teaching and Referral Hospital in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), describing the project as a transformative step toward achieving UHC. He urged county leadership to ensure that all Primary Health Care facilities are fully integrated into the SHA programme, enhancing access to healthcare for all residents. Governor Erick Mutai, along with National Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah and other senior officials, hosted the CS and highlighted the county’s progress in upgrading medical infrastructure and expanding service delivery capacity.
Residents and health sector stakeholders welcomed the government’s initiatives, noting that the expansion and digitization of health services will improve patient care, reduce travel for specialized treatment, and strengthen the overall health system. CS Duale reaffirmed that these measures, coupled with strategic partnerships and modern infrastructure, aim to make quality healthcare accessible, affordable, and sustainable, positioning Kericho County as a model for other counties in achieving UHC goals.