
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appointed Dr Richard Lesiyampe Leserian as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenya’s oldest and largest referral facility.
The announcement, made on Monday evening, highlighted Dr Lesiyampe’s extensive experience in health management, which Duale said will be crucial in guiding the hospital through ongoing reforms.
“Dr Richard Lesiyampe brings vast experience to strengthen KNH’s governance, clinical, and administrative systems,” Duale stated. He added that as the country’s apex referral facility, KNH is central to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Before his new appointment, Dr Lesiyampe was serving as the acting head of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where he was credited with improving operations and raising the hospital’s profile. Duale named Joshua Clinton Ombiri Okise as the new Acting CEO of JOOTRH, tasking him with overseeing the institution’s transition following its upgrade to a Level Six facility.
Established in 1901, Kenyatta National Hospital has grown into a leading medical center in East and Central Africa. It has a capacity of 1,800 beds—including a 209-bed private wing—runs 50 wards, 22 outpatient clinics, and 24 operating theatres. The hospital employs more than 6,000 staff members and provides specialised services such as neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics, and burns treatment.
Beyond patient care, KNH also serves as a key training and research hub, underpinning the government’s UHC agenda. Dr Lesiyampe’s leadership is expected to sharpen efficiency, expand specialised care, and align the hospital with national health priorities.