Kenya, 14 January 2026 - The move by Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to sit down with the top leadership of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) is a pivotal moment for the county’s health sector, now thrust into national focus following the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to Level 6 status.
Meeting KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah and Nyanza Branch Chairman Dr Onyango Ndonga at his Town Hall office, Prof Nyong’o framed the talks as more than a routine courtesy call, but a strategic dialogue on how to stabilise and future-proof Kisumu’s healthcare workforce.
“Our talks focused on human resource considerations affecting medical practitioners, whose role remains critical in attaining positive healthcare delivery outcomes,” Prof Nyong’o said, underscoring the centrality of doctors, pharmacists and dentists in a devolved system increasingly strained by rising patient loads and limited budgets.
The timing of the meeting was politically and administratively significant.
With JOOTRH now a national referral facility, Kisumu is no longer just managing a county hospital but hosting a regional medical hub that serves Western Kenya, Nyanza and parts of neighbouring countries.
That upgrade brings prestige, but also pressure — from staffing levels and specialist retention to remuneration and career progression.
Nyong’o sought to reassure KMPDU that his administration is keen to avoid the labour unrest that has rocked other counties and even the national health system in recent years.
“Constant consultations are essential in handling workforce matters,” he said, signalling a governance approach built on dialogue rather than confrontation.
On the future of JOOTRH within Kisumu’s wider health ecosystem, the governor struck a careful balance between national ambition and local equity.
He said the county was “deliberate in consolidating service delivery across County and Sub-County facilities to ensure continuity, quality, and equity of care,” an acknowledgment that a super-hospital in Kisumu City should not hollow out services in rural facilities.
KMPDU’s leadership, often at the forefront of hard-line negotiations with governments over pay and working conditions, adopted a notably conciliatory tone.
They welcomed the hospital’s elevation to Level Six and credited the county for its fiscal discipline, noting Kisumu’s “consistency in meeting monthly remuneration obligations,” a rarity in a sector where delayed salaries have triggered strikes across the country.
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That financial reliability has given Nyong’o leverage as he pushes for reforms within what he described as “established institutional, fiscal and policy frameworks.” On the thorny issue of promotions and career progression — a perennial grievance among health workers — the governor was careful not to promise shortcuts, but assured unions that the issues “will continue to be addressed” within the rules.
Behind the polite language lies a deeper political economy of health.
Kisumu’s ability to attract and retain specialists will now determine whether JOOTRH truly becomes a national referral powerhouse or remains a symbolic upgrade.
For KMPDU, the meeting offered a chance to lock in commitments before expectations — and workloads — rise further.
Nyong’o wrapped his message in appreciation, but also in a subtle reminder of mutual dependence.
“We truly appreciate our medical practitioners and our healthcare workers,” he said, a statement that doubles as both praise and a call for stability at a time when Kisumu’s healthcare system is entering its most ambitious phase yet.
Also present were County Secretary Hesbon Hongo and Health CECM Dr Gregory Ganda, underscoring that this was not just a political engagement, but a coordinated signal from the county’s top leadership that Kisumu is keen to keep its medics onside as it steps onto the national healthcare stage.

Kepher Otieno is a senior journalist and columnist based in Kenya.
The opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.

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