By Nelson Musungu, Bungoma
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has announced that the African Development Bank (ADB) will finance the upgrading of the Bungoma County Referral Hospital to a Level Six facility at a cost of Kshs. 8 billion.
Speaking during the funeral service of the late Mama Juliana Nakhumicha Osyanju at the Bungoma KMTC grounds, Wetang’ula emphasized that the project will not draw funding from the national exchequer.
“The upgrade of Bungoma County Referral Hospital to a Level Six facility should not burden public coffers. The project is fully funded by the African Development Bank,” he clarified.
He added that the ADB has already deposited the required funds with the National Treasury.
The Cabinet has already approved the hospital upgrade, which upon completion will become the only Level Six medical facility in the Western region.
“The elevation of this hospital will be a game-changer for healthcare in our region. It will receive direct government funding and offer specialized medical services equivalent to those provided in other Level Six hospitals across the country,” Wetang’ula said.
He further noted that the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Bungoma campus, will benefit from the project through significant infrastructure development and the introduction of additional academic programs to enhance medical training.
In related development, Wetang’ula revealed that the government has initiated the transfer of 30 acres of land from the Bungoma airstrip to the County Government of Bungoma.
This follows a directive from President William Ruto to decommission the current airstrip and pave the way for the construction of a smart city.
“The land transfer has been necessitated by the development of a new airstrip at Matulo on a land parcel that was donated by the county. The smart city project will be established on the old airstrip grounds,” he said.
The Speaker also disclosed plans to relocate Bungoma Sports Club and nearby government institutions to the newly acquired land to facilitate the hospital’s expansion.
“We will engage all institutions around the hospital, including the club where I am a member, to reach a consensus on relocation to enable the hospital’s growth,” he added.
To comply with legal requirements for public participation, Wetang’ula confirmed that the government will hold consultations with residents.
“We will organize a public participation forum here in town to listen to the views of all citizens, including those opposed to the development plans,” he said.
He also announced that the new Matulo Airstrip is set for expansion to meet international standards, with Ksh100 million allocated to the project — equally funded by the National Treasury and Bungoma County Government.
Wetang’ula further stated that work on other development projects that have stalled due to funding constraints will now resume.
The National Treasury has allocated Ksh8.5 billion for key road projects across the county.
He noted that plans are underway to upgrade the Eldoret–Webuye–Malaba highway into a dual carriageway, as part of a broader vision to transform Bungoma into a city.
“Transforming Bungoma Town into a city is a vision I’ve long held and remain committed to achieving,” he affirmed.
However, he expressed concern over a few Members of Parliament allegedly working to derail the region’s development agenda for political gain.
“I am confident their efforts will not succeed. The people of Bungoma deserve progress, not politics,” he said.
