Gusii leaders have called on the National Government to allocate more funds to the newly established Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Speaking during the inauguration of the hospital’s management board on Monday, the leaders led by Governor James Ongwae and Kitutu Chache North MP Richard Onyonka said a lot of money was required to give the facility a facelift.

Governor Ongwae said an estimated Sh 8 billion was required to improve the physical infrastructure at the hospital and equip it with state of the art equipment befitting a teaching and referral hospital.

“This hospital serves a catchment of over 5 million people in South Nyanza and parts of Rift Valley hence its importance to the country’s healthcare system. Overhauling it needs enormous resources and this is where we need help from the national government,” said Ongwae.

Onyonka echoed Ongwae’s sentiments and vowed to mobilize all Gusii MPs to push for more funding to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital as well as Kisii University.

“I salute the county government for its efforts in elevating this hospital into a teaching and referral facility because our people will benefit immensely. The Jubilee Government has to support us on this matter before we rethink our political stand as a community,” said Onyonka who sits in the National Assembly’s budget committee.

Other leaders who backed the call included Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Akama and Nyaribari Masaba MP Elijah Moindi.

Prof. Akama said referral hospitals like KNH and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret were getting billions as unconditional grants and appealed to MPs from Gusii region to lobby for additional funds to Kisii Hospital.

At the same time, residents were asked not to politicize the hospital’s new status as it is meant to enhance service delivery.

“Health is a fully devolved function and nobody should fear that the referral hospital will be taken up by the national government. The health services department has achieved one of its milestones and other departments need to follow suit for the good of our people,” said Maangi.

The facility was gazette as a teaching and referral hospital on 1st October this year following the enactment of the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Act, 2013.