Amid the succession politics debate, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga will visit Kisii County today to launch health projects. Will it be a soft talk?
This is the first time the three leaders will visit the county together on a development tour since the August 2017 General Election.Kisii Governor James Ongwae said the President will launch several projects at the County Referral Hospital.
“We are very pleased to host the President, Deputy President and former Prime Minister in Kisii County where they will visit Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital which has undergone tremendous transformation in the last few years,” said Ongwae.
The governor said during the tour, the President will also preside over the ground-breaking ceremony of the Sh2.25 billion Cancer Diagnostic and Treatment Centre which will be funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and the Saudi Fund for Development.
“Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital has a big catchment spanning five counties in the region with over 2,500 daily outpatient cases. The current bed capacity stands at 450.
We have built a new 250-bed male ward which is going to be officially launched by the President today,” said Ongwae.The governor said the President will also launch a medical school at the county hospital which will be operated by Kisii University.
“The curriculum for medical courses has been approved by the University’s Senate and the school is now ready for admission of the first batch of students. This was the reason for construction of the histology and anatomy laboratories for use by medical students during their practicals,” said Ongwae.
He said the President will also open a 100-body capacity mortuary with state-of-the-art cooling facility and a separate funeral parlour and parking for 100 vehicles.
The hospital, which opened doors 90 years ago, has hitherto had a 24-body capacity mortuary.Ongwae said the President will also lay the foundation stone for a new mother and child facility which will be constructed at a cost of Sh150 million.