Garissa leaders push for National Government takeover of referral hospital, cancer centre
Garissa leaders on Friday called for the elevation of the Garissa Referral Hospital to a Level 6 facility in an effort to place it under the management of the Ministry of Health.
They want both the referral hospital and the cancer centre to be managed by the national government through the ministry.
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Speaking during the official launch of the Social Health Authority and Digital Health Transformation in Garissa county, Garissa Senator Abdikadir Haji called for the transfer of the duo health facilities to the national government for effective service delivery.
He said the two facilities were not only serving Garissa County but also the neighbouring counties, hence a burden in terms of resources and management.
"Together with other Members of Parliament from the region, we are proposing the takeover of the Garissa Referral Hospital and the regional cancer centre that both serve a bigger population from northern Kenya," he said.
Garissa Township MP Dekow M Barrow stated that with oversight by the national government and enough resources, the two health facilities will provide quality health care services.
Garissa Township MP Dekow M Barrow during the launch of the Health Facility Digitalisation in Garissa County on June 13, 2025. (Photo: Issa Hussein)
He urged the Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, who were both present during the event, to consider supporting their plea to upgrade the referral hospital.
He emphasised the expected improved outcomes once the two facilities were taken over by the ministry.
Fafi Member of Parliament, Salah Yakub, said the county government was struggling to offer the necessary services at the Garissa Level 5 Referral Hospital due to strained resources.
"With upgrading and takeover by the national government, the county will be in a position to pull resources towards the health facilities at the sub-county levels, hence providing quality healthcare services," he said.
Local residents during the launch of the Health Facility Digitalisation in Garissa County on June 13, 2025. (Photo: Issa Hussein)
He cited the elevation of Kisumu's Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to a Level 6 facility, improving service delivery.
He noted that neighbouring counties were seeking health services at the Garissa Level 5 Referral Hospital and the regional cancer centre and were not contributing to the burden of the operational costs.
However, CS Duale and Governor Nathif remained non-committal in responding to the proposal of the area members of parliament, including Ijara MP Abdi Ali, who also joined his counterparts to agitate for the upgrading and transfer of the facility.
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