Kenya’s health sector is once again in the spotlight after Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale announced major changes in leadership at the country’s biggest referral hospitals.
On Monday, August 18, Duale confirmed that Richard Lesiyampe Leserian is now the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). This is the largest and most important hospital in Kenya, often called the heartbeat of the nation’s health system.
Lesiyampe’s appointment did not come out of nowhere. He had been serving as the Acting CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu. His new move to KNH marks a major promotion and recognition of his long service in the health sector.
According to CS Duale, Lesiyampe has the skills, experience, and leadership to bring change at KNH.
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“Lesiyampe, formerly Acting CEO of JOOTRH, brings vast experience to strengthen KNH’s governance, clinical, and administrative systems in line with ongoing reforms,” Duale stated.
Duale stressed that Lesiyampe’s role is not just about managing staff. It is about reforming Kenya’s largest referral hospital so that patients get better services, doctors and nurses work more efficiently, and corruption loopholes are sealed.
At the same time, Aden Duale moved quickly to fill the gap left at JOOTRH. He appointed Joshua Clinton Ombiri Okise as the new Acting CEO.
JOOTRH was recently elevated to a Level 6 hospital, which places it in the same category as KNH. This means it now handles top-level referrals, complex surgeries, and advanced teaching roles.
Duale said Ombiri has a key mission, make sure the hospital grows smoothly after this historic promotion.
“Following this transition, Mr. Joshua Clinton Ombiri Okise has been appointed to act as Chief Executive Officer of JOOTRH. He will oversee a smooth leadership transition and support the JOOTRH’s continued growth following its recent elevation to Level 6 status,” he said.
This leadership shake-up is part of President William Ruto’s broader health agenda. The government is pushing Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which aims to give every Kenyan access to affordable healthcare without financial hardship.
It is also tied to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). This is Ruto’s main plan for economic growth, and healthcare reforms are at the center of it.
Just last month, President Ruto also appointed Abbas Gullet, the respected former Red Cross boss, as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the KNH Board.
In a gazette notice dated July 26, 2025, Ruto said Gullet would serve for three years.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Abbas Gullet to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kenyatta National Hospital, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 25th July, 2025. The appointment of Samier Muravvej (Dr.) is revoked,” the notice read.
The trio of Gullet at the board, Lesiyampe at the CEO seat of KNH, and Ombiri at JOOTRH, represents a new wave of leadership in Kenya’s health sector.
Analysts say this team could be exactly what the country needs to fight challenges like underfunding, overcrowding, poor facilities, and low staff morale.
Kenyans online have been reacting strongly to the news. Some welcomed the changes as “long overdue,” while others warned that “appointments mean nothing without real change.”
Doctors’ unions and health workers are also watching closely. They want to see if the new leaders will actually improve working conditions, reduce shortages of medicines, and make hospitals more patient-friendly.
For ordinary Kenyans, the hope is simple: shorter waiting times, better treatment, and access to affordable healthcare.
KNH alone serves thousands of patients every single day, and JOOTRH is now expected to ease the pressure by handling high-level cases in western Kenya.
Duale’s announcement may have been short and official, but its impact could be huge. It is not just about new names and new offices, it is about whether Kenya’s dream of a strong health system can finally become a reality.
For now, Richard Lesiyampe and Joshua Ombiri are the men in the hot seats. Their performance will determine if Kenya’s hospitals will heal not just patients, but the health system itself.
