Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has renewed calls for the elevation of Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital to a Level 6 facility, a move that would pave the way for the hospital’s transfer from county administration to the Ministry of Health.
The proposal would effectively reposition the hospital from a county-managed referral facility into a nationally governed institution, bringing increased funding, expanded staffing, and greater access to specialist services under the national health system.
Speaking during the 2026 World Blood Donor Day celebrations in Garissa, which were attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Governor Nathif said the upgrade would mark a major turning point in healthcare delivery in northern Kenya.
Shift Towards National Control
Level 6 hospitals fall under the direct oversight of the national government. Governor Nathif’s push is seen as a strategic effort to transition the facility from county management to national administration.
While he did not explicitly announce a transfer of ownership, the governor indicated that the move is under consideration as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare services in the region.
He noted that the hospital already serves a population far beyond Garissa County, with patients regularly travelling from neighbouring counties in search of specialised treatment that remains limited across northern Kenya.
Pressure on an Overstretched Facility
Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital currently serves as the region’s main referral centre and has faced mounting pressure due to rising patient numbers and limited specialist capacity.
Governor Nathif said upgrading the facility to Level 6 status would unlock national funding streams, attract highly specialised medical professionals, and strengthen its role as a teaching and research institution.
“This would not only serve the people of Garissa but also neighbouring counties that depend heavily on this facility,” he said during the event.
If approved, the hospital would become the first national referral facility in Kenya’s North Eastern region, significantly improving access to specialised healthcare services closer to home.
Regional Health Reforms Underway
The governor also outlined wider health sector reforms within the county, including plans to upgrade seven Level 4 hospitals to Level 5 status and ongoing improvements at Balambala Sub-County Hospital.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that Balambala Sub-County Hospital will be upgraded to a Level 5 facility to expand access to specialised healthcare in Garissa County and the wider North Eastern region.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the project, Duale said the 150-bed hospital is approximately 70 per cent complete and will serve as a major referral centre once operational.
He said the strategy is aimed at decentralising basic and intermediate care while strengthening the main referral facility to handle complex cases under national oversight.
Duale has previously supported similar upgrades in the region, signalling growing alignment between county and national governments on health infrastructure development.
Push for Universal Health Coverage
Governor Nathif linked the proposed reforms to Kenya’s broader Universal Health Coverage agenda, arguing that equitable access to healthcare should not depend on geographical location.
“Healthcare should not be determined by where a person lives. Our goal is to build a system that is accessible, responsive and capable of providing quality care to every resident of Garissa,” he said.
The remarks were made during an event held under the theme “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives,” which also featured a two-day medical camp and the collection of 350 pints of blood.
A Strategic Handover in the Making
Although presented as an upgrade, the proposal effectively signals a potential handover of one of northern Kenya’s most important health facilities to the national government.
If approved, the move would elevate the hospital into the country’s top tier of healthcare institutions, placing it alongside Kenya’s leading national referral hospitals and reshaping the healthcare landscape of northern Kenya.
