Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has directed the fast-tracking of Garissa Level Five Referral and Teaching Hospital’s elevation to Level 6 status following a high-level meeting with the facility’s Chief Executive Officer, Mahat Sheikh Salah, at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi on Monday.
The discussions come a week after President William Ruto upgraded the hospital to Level 6 — a landmark decision expected to transform access to specialised healthcare for communities across North Eastern Kenya and the wider Horn of Africa.
The move will alleviate the burden on existing facilities and improve health outcomes across demographics.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to modernising the facility into a world-class referral hospital.
The initiative positions Garissa County Referral Hospital as a regional centre of excellence, providing advanced specialised healthcare services to residents of Garissa, neighbouring counties and cross-border communities.
The two leaders agreed on a comprehensive transformation agenda focusing on modernising infrastructure, expanding specialised medical services, acquiring advanced medical equipment and strengthening the health workforce.
They also emphasised improving patient-centred care, increasing access to quality and affordable healthcare, and accelerating the adoption of digital health technologies to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Mr. Salah said the elevation to Level 6 status would significantly reduce the need for patients to travel to distant referral hospitals for specialised treatment.
“The upgrade will bring quality specialised healthcare closer to communities that have long faced challenges accessing advanced medical services. It will also strengthen emergency care, specialised treatment, medical training and research,” he said.
The planned modernisation includes the construction of additional wards and specialised units, expansion of diagnostic and laboratory services, enhancement of maternal and child healthcare, strengthening of intensive care and surgical services, and investment in climate-resilient health infrastructure.
CS Duale said the investments are designed to meet the growing healthcare needs of North Eastern Kenya, including pastoralist and border communities, while supporting the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
He noted that strengthening referral services in underserved regions would improve health outcomes, reduce preventable deaths and enhance the country’s preparedness for public health emergencies.
Mr. Salah added that the hospital has already begun implementing complementary reforms, including digital automation, acquisition of specialised medical equipment and ongoing infrastructure improvements to enhance service delivery.
The facility already acts as a critical lifeline for a sprawling population across Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Ukambani (Machakos and Kitui), Tana River, Lamu, Isiolo, Marsabit and Meru counties.
Patients from these areas frequently rely on the former Provincial General Hospital for referrals that would otherwise require arduous journeys to distant facilities in Nairobi or elsewhere.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare, saying the planned transformation aligns with President William Ruto’s vision of building resilient and self-reliant health systems.
Once completed, the Level 6 upgrade is expected to establish Garissa County Referral Hospital as a leading referral, teaching and research institution, serving millions of people across North Eastern Kenya and the wider Horn of Africa while contributing to regional development and improved healthcare access.
The proposed elevation is one of the most significant healthcare investments for Northern Kenya in recent years. It is expected to improve access to specialised medical services while reinforcing Garissa’s role as the region’s healthcare referral centre.
The facility has long handled complex medical cases, supported maternal and child health, and responded to regional emergencies, making its upcoming elevation to Level 6 national referral status a historic milestone in northern Kenya’s healthcare development.
Garissa Teaching and Referral Hospital first opened its doors in 1967 as a small city council facility and was transferred to the Ministry of Health in 1970.
Formerly known as Garissa Provincial General Hospital (or District Hospital), it has served as the primary healthcare institution in the region for decades.
