By Samson Wire
Siaya County is quietly scripting a healthcare turnaround that could redefine access to quality medical services across the region.
Under the stewardship of Governor James Orengo, the Nyalore administration has accelerated the rollout of universal healthcare access through bold investments anchored in the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs). At the heart of this transformation is the ultra-modern Yala Sub-County Accident, Emergency and Maternity Theatre Complex, a flagship project poised to ease long-standing healthcare deficits in Gem Sub-County and neighbouring areas.
The state-of-the-art facility, currently under construction along the busy Kisumu–Busia Road, sits strategically within one of western Kenya’s fastest-growing transport and economic corridors. Once completed, the complex is expected to significantly decongest referral hospitals while bringing lifesaving services closer to the people.
Ending Preventable Maternal and Child Deaths
Health officials say the Yala complex will be a game-changer in addressing chronic shortages in maternity services, caesarean section capacity and emergency response, challenges that have for years contributed to preventable maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
With fully equipped theatres, modern emergency units and expanded maternity wards, the facility is designed to offer timely, high-quality care—particularly for expectant mothers who previously had to travel long distances for specialised services.
“This is about dignity, equity and saving lives,” a county health official noted. “No mother should lose her life or child because of distance or lack of facilities.”
Countywide Healthcare Upgrade Gains Momentum
The Yala project is part of a countywide healthcare improvement drive spanning all seven sub-counties and municipalities in Siaya. Governor Orengo’s administration has already broken ground or upgraded emergency, accident and maternity theatres across the county.
In Ugenya, construction is underway at Ukwala Sub-County Hospital, while Ugunja has seen progress at Sigomere, where a Level Three hospital is rising to meet growing demand. Bondo Sub-County Hospital has been upgraded with additional treatment rooms and enhanced medical supplies, boosting its service capacity.
Meanwhile, Siaya Municipality is witnessing major upgrades at the Siaya County Referral Hospital, where a new expanded Accident, Emergency and Casualty Wing is under construction. The project, which received key allocations in the 2025/2026 financial year, is now in Phase Two, a Sh500 million facility improvement initiative being implemented in partnership with the National Government through the Ministry of Health.
Powering Healthcare Through Strategic Partnerships
Beyond infrastructure, the county is leveraging strong partnerships with development agencies to strengthen primary healthcare and disease prevention.
Siaya County is working closely with the National Government, AMREF Health Africa, and other partners to bolster primary healthcare delivery and malaria prevention. The Centre for Health Solutions is supporting county efforts in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, while the Lwala Community Alliance has signed a Sh150 million Memorandum of Understanding focused on maternal health and community-based training for healthcare workers. The agreement was formalised during an official meeting attended by Governor Orengo at the County Government headquarters last week.
Additional partners include World Vision, supporting facility and maternal health improvements, and the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), which is working with the county on family-based and reproductive health systems. The European Union is also collaborating with Siaya County in nutrition, agricultural production and broader social development programmes that directly impact public health outcomes.
A New Healthcare Frontier for Siaya
As cranes rise and partnerships deepen, Siaya County’s healthcare transformation is becoming tangible. From emergency theatres to community health systems, the Orengo-Nyalore administration is positioning the county as a model for devolved healthcare delivery.
For residents of Gem, Yala and beyond, the promise is simple yet profound: faster access, safer births, stronger emergency response and healthier communities—a vision steadily taking shape along the Kisumu–Busia Road and across the heart of Siaya.
