Kericho County Referral Hospital has officially been handed over to a contractor to begin urgent renovation works that include the safe removal of hazardous asbestos roofing and the construction of a modern hospital kitchen in line with a cabinet-approved national public safety directive.

Presiding over the handover event at the Level 5 hospital, Kericho County Governor Eric Mutai stated that the facility will undergo a complete asbestos abatement process followed by comprehensive reroofing and kitchen modernisation, with all operations conducted under the strict supervision of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Dr Mutai confirmed that the renovation works will be carried out in compliance with Legal Notice No 121 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations of 2006, which classifies asbestos waste as hazardous and mandates approved methods for its handling, transportation and disposal.

Governor Mutai issued a stern public advisory instructing residents to maintain at least a 30-metre distance from the hospital site due to the potential airborne threat posed by disturbed asbestos fibres, which can remain suspended in the air and are known to cause irreversible respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma if inhaled.

Highlighting the scale and urgency of the project, the governor noted that while the contractor had initially proposed a 16-week work period, his administration successfully negotiated for an expedited completion timeline of between four and six weeks to minimise service disruption while ensuring strict adherence to safety and quality standards.

To mitigate the impact of the closure on health services, Governor Mutai announced a comprehensive redistribution of hospital staff and services, confirming that medical personnel have been redeployed to Kapkatet, Sigowet, Londiani and Roret sub-county hospitals, as well as to several health centres, dispensaries and private facilities across the county.

“These facilities have been sufficiently resourced and equipped to manage the increased patient load during the referral hospital’s temporary closure,” said Dr Mutai.

The governor further commended the proactive efforts of partner institutions that have stepped in to support the county during this transition phase. He specifically thanked the Walter Reed Project for availing office space for administrative staff and continuing to offer tuberculosis and related health services, and Siloam Hospital for assuming responsibility for blood donation services during the hospital’s renovation.

Mutai also disclosed that a centralised online coordination platform has been activated to ensure real-time communication among health facilities, enabling smooth referrals, monitoring of patient pathways, and rapid response to emerging service gaps throughout the project period.

”Residents in need of urgent medical attention were urged to contact the county emergency call centre on 0724 035035, which remains operational 24/7 to offer guidance, coordinate ambulance services and direct patients to the nearest available health facility,” Mutai explained.

In addition to this, the governor revealed that the county has mobilized ambulances to offer free transport for patients who may unknowingly present themselves at the referral hospital and confirmed that four doctors will be available on call at all times to respond to emergencies and critical cases.

Mutai reiterated that this temporary inconvenience is necessary and worthwhile, describing the initiative as a pivotal investment in strengthening the resilience of Kericho’s health infrastructure and securing long-term health outcomes for county residents.

The governor said the project aligns with the national campaign to eliminate asbestos from public buildings, a campaign that was launched after extensive evidence linked asbestos exposure to fatal health conditions, including mesothelioma – a rare aggressive cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, abdomen and heart.

Kericho County Referral Hospital was one of several key public health facilities identified for priority intervention under the national asbestos eradication program, which targets aging public infrastructure built during the 1960s and 1970s when asbestos was widely used in roofing materials.

According to the World Health Organization, asbestos is a Group 1 human carcinogen, meaning it is proven to cause cancer in humans with even low-level exposure over time having the potential to trigger serious diseases decades after initial contact.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kibe Mburu