The National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) has called for increased staffing and resources at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) amid growing public concerns over service delivery at the facility.
The association said the hospital’s expanded capacity and specialised services must be matched with adequate healthcare workers, essential supplies and improved working conditions to ensure patients receive quality care.
In a statement dated October 13, NNAK acknowledged concerns raised by patients, families and members of the public over services at the Kisumu-based Level Six referral hospital, calling for prompt investigations into complaints and appropriate action where shortcomings are established.
However, the association cautioned against blaming nurses and other healthcare professionals for challenges that may arise from wider institutional and systemic constraints.
“Patients deserve quality care, and healthcare professionals deserve the respect, resources and working conditions necessary to deliver it,” the statement said.
NNAK president Collins Ajwang said the concerns should be addressed through accountability, constructive engagement and practical interventions rather than blanket condemnation of healthcare workers.
The association noted that JOOTRH’s elevation to Level Six status had increased its responsibility to provide specialised healthcare to Kisumu, the wider Lake Region and beyond, raising public expectations for reliable services and positive patient outcomes.
It acknowledged ongoing transformation efforts under the hospital’s management and board, including the expansion of clinical services, additional theatres and wards, and the transition to digital and paperless operations.
The association also cited an increase in the hospital’s reported bed capacity from 510 to 900, saying the developments must be accompanied by investments in the workforce and other resources needed to sustain quality care.
“However, infrastructure and technology must be matched by adequate staffing, essential resources and continuous professional development,” the statement said.
According to NNAK, JOOTRH has 377 nurses employed on permanent and pensionable terms and another 67 engaged on a locum basis.
It called on the Public Service Commission, the Ministry of Health, relevant county government authorities and hospital management to review the facility’s human resource establishment to ensure staffing levels reflect its current and projected needs.
The association further urged increased funding for capacity building and continuous professional development for nurses and other healthcare workers.
It warned that expanding healthcare infrastructure without investing in the personnel responsible for delivering services would not be sufficient to meet public expectations.
NNAK outlined five priority interventions, including protecting healthcare professionals from harassment while maintaining professional accountability, bringing together stakeholders to develop practical solutions, and ensuring complaints are promptly reported and investigated.
It also called for a review of staffing frameworks to improve patient safety and quality of care, alongside increased investment in professional development and essential resources.
The association said transforming JOOTRH into a centre of excellence required shared responsibility among hospital management, government institutions and healthcare professionals.
It maintained that hospital management must provide effective leadership and functional systems, government institutions must ensure adequate staffing and resources, while healthcare workers must uphold their ethical and professional obligations.
As a teaching and referral hospital, JOOTRH should be judged by the quality of its services, the professionalism of its workforce and the outcomes it delivers, the association said.
NNAK reiterated its support for the hospital’s ongoing transformation, urging urgent action to strengthen staffing, improve working conditions and enhance patients’ experiences.
“Patients deserve better, nurses and all other healthcare providers deserve the support to deliver better, and JOOTRH must rise to the expectations that come with its national referral mandate,” the statement said.
