The Health Ministry has named Dr Richard Lesiyampe Leserian as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta National Hospital, taking charge of the country’s largest referral and teaching facility.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, in a statement on Monday evening, said Lesiyampe is an experienced healthcare administrator whose leadership will be crucial in steering the hospital through ongoing reforms.

“Dr Richard Lesiyampe brings vast experience to strengthen KNH’s governance, clinical, and administrative systems,” Duale said. “As the apex national referral facility, Kenyatta National Hospital plays a critical role in advancing health sector reforms and achieving Universal Health Coverage.”

Before this appointment, Dr Lesiyampe served as acting CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he was credited with improving its operational systems and raising its profile.

At the same time, Joshua Clinton Ombiri Okise has been appointed Acting CEO at JOOTRH. Duale noted that Okise will lead a smooth transition and guide the hospital’s continued growth following its recent upgrade to Level 6 status.

Kenyatta National Hospital, located in Nairobi and established in 1901, has grown into one of the most prominent healthcare facilities in East and Central Africa.

It has a capacity of 1,800 beds, including a 209-bed private wing, and operates 50 wards, 22 outpatient clinics, and 24 surgical theaters.

The hospital employs over 6,000 staff and provides specialized services including cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and burns management.

The facility is also a key training and research hub, central to the government’s health transformation plan and goal of Universal Health Coverage. Lesiyampe’s leadership is expected to improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and align KNH with national health priorities.

Other referral facilities in Kenya include Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, and the National Spinal Injury Referral Hospital.