Five-Storey Hospital Block Advances Inside Siaya County Referral Hospital

Principal Secretary Mariru inspects the five-storey 250-bed hospital building at Siaya County Referral Hospital, now under construction since October last year with Principal Secretary for Defence Patrick Mariru visited the site of the proposed Siaya County Referral Hospital. Construction of a five-storey hospital building with 250-bed capacity is underway there.

The Kenya Defence Forces supervise the project on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Work began in October last year. Officials expect completion by January next year.

The building will add substantial inpatient capacity once handed over. It forms part of efforts to strengthen referral services in Siaya County.

Architectural model of the proposed block /Handout

Siaya County Referral Hospital serves as a key facility for the region. The new block will support management of more complex cases locally.

Progress on the five-storey structure includes ongoing structural works visible during the site tour. The design accommodates wards, support services and clinical areas suited to a 250-bed operation.

Ministry of Defence involvement through the Kenya Defence Forces brings engineering expertise to the delivery. Such partnerships have supported several public infrastructure projects in recent years.

Upon completion the facility will improve healthcare access for residents. It will reduce the need for referrals to distant national hospitals for many conditions.

The project represents a significant investment in county-level health infrastructure. It aligns with broader government priorities on expanding medical services closer to communities.

County health teams will integrate the new block into existing operations at the referral hospital. Planning for staffing and equipment is expected to run alongside the remaining construction phases.

The five-storey configuration maximises use of the available site while meeting modern hospital standards. Vertical expansion allows efficient organisation of departments across floors.

Mariru received briefings from project teams during the visit. Discussions focused on maintaining the current pace toward the January target.

Siaya County continues to see growth in healthcare demand. The additional beds and facilities will help address that pressure in a structured way.

The completed hospital block will operate under county management as part of the referral system. It will complement lower-level facilities across the county. targeted for January.