Kisumu County has strengthened its reputation as a leader in health sector reform after becoming one of the first devolved units to roll out the Kenya Quality Model for Health Plus (KQMH Plus), a national framework aimed at embedding quality and safety across all levels of healthcare delivery.
The initiative was officially launched at Angola Health Centre in Kolwa East Ward, with Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili describing the programme as a critical step towards making quality healthcare a guaranteed right rather than a privilege.
“Every Kenyan, wherever they live, deserves safe, effective and respectful healthcare of acceptable quality and safety as a right, not a privilege,” Dr. Owili said, adding that KQMH Plus enhances the use of data, digital tools, continuous learning and accountability in line with Kisumu’s health reforms and the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Dr. Owili attributed the county’s progress to early investments in strong healthcare foundations, including infrastructure, utilities and digital readiness within its Primary Health Care networks. He cited upgrades across several facilities, noting that Muhoroni County Hospital has been transformed into a dignified referral facility through ward refurbishment, improved sanitation and enhanced lighting to support round-the-clock services.
He said Lumumba County Hospital has been fully digitised through TaifaCare, enabling nurses to use digital partographs to detect and manage complications in real time, while Ojola Sub-County Hospital now boasts a modern outpatient department and a wellness centre focused on preventive screening. Katito Sub-County Hospital has been upgraded with solar power, Wi-Fi and CCTV to support 24-hour digitally enabled care, while Ahero County Hospital has been modernised with improved maternity, mortuary and power systems linked to real-time county supervision. Expanded maternity wings, new theatres and specialist deployments at Gita and Kombewa have also brought advanced care closer to communities.
“These investments were strategic,” Dr. Owili said. “They laid the groundwork for quality, because quality must be built on systems that work.”
The Deputy Governor announced that the County Executive Committee has approved the recruitment of additional healthcare workers to improve responsiveness, reduce workloads and enhance service delivery, particularly in maternity, outpatient and emergency services.
He also highlighted Kisumu’s use of SafeMamaTech, a digital innovation that identifies high-risk pregnancies early, supports clinical decision-making and links emergency referrals through a free 24-hour ambulance network. Dr. Owili said the programme has recorded positive outcomes, noting that all mothers enrolled in Kolwa East Ward have delivered safely.
Kisumu has also integrated the SafeCare quality improvement approach, supported by PharmAccess, into its Primary Care Networks. Dr. Owili said no Authority to Incur Expenditure is issued without a dedicated allocation for quality improvement, citing an improvement in maternal health preparedness in Kolwa East from 26 per cent to 54 per cent within one year.
During the launch, a high-level delegation paid a courtesy call on Dr. Owili and County Commissioner Benson Lopermorijo to discuss strengthening collaboration in healthcare delivery, workforce development and quality assurance.
Dr. Muthoni, Head of Quality and Standards at the Ministry of Health, praised Kisumu for setting a national benchmark, saying the county has demonstrated what is possible when leadership, data and community ownership align. She said Kisumu’s progress reflects the core principles of KQMH Plus by integrating community, facility, referral and data systems into a seamless, people-centred health network.
Dr. Owili concluded by reaffirming Kisumu County’s readiness to lead in implementing KQMH Plus and delivering safe, effective and respectful healthcare to all residents.
“Kisumu County is proud to be among the first in this rollout. We are ready to lead, to learn and to deliver,” he said.
As Kenya advances toward Universal Health Coverage, Kisumu County continues to stand out as a model of how strong leadership, digital innovation and community-focused planning can translate national health policies into tangible, life-changing outcomes.
