A new era of professional recognition and financial reward has dawned for the medical staff at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Following the facility's elevation to a national referral hospital, the institution is finalizing a sweeping transition that will see employees migrate from county-level grading to a lucrative national salary structure.

The shift marks the end of years of disparity. CEO Dr. Joshua Okise confirmed that the transition is 95% complete, with the hospital working closely with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to approve the new payroll instruments. This move will align JOOTRH staff with their counterparts at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, effectively harmonizing terms of service across the country’s top-tier medical facilities.

From 17 Tiers to 14

The core of the reform is the conversion of the grading system. Staff are being moved from the county government’s 17-tier system to a more condensed and better-remunerated 14-tier structure. This change is not just administrative; it carries significant financial benefits and career progression opportunities that were previously capped under the county administration. "Initially, this facility did not have the HR instruments to support this level of professional growth," Dr. Okise explained.

In a concurrent win for labor relations, the hospital management has signed a landmark Recognition Agreement with the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO). This document grants clinical officers legal standing to negotiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) directly with the hospital, ensuring their welfare is institutionalized rather than discretionary.

• The Status: JOOTRH is now a parastatal, independent of the Kisumu County Public Service Board.
• The Benefit: Enhanced salaries, allowances, and defined career paths for all cadres.
• The Partnership: The KUCO agreement signals a new collaborative approach to industrial relations.

A Healthier Future

KUCO Secretary General George Gibore hailed the development as a precedent for other counties. The elevation of JOOTRH is expected to attract top-tier specialists to the region, reversing the brain drain that often plagues regional facilities. For the patients in Nyanza and Western Kenya, this means access to better-motivated staff and specialized care closer to home.

As the final SRC approvals are stamped, the message is clear: JOOTRH has graduated. It is no longer just a hospital; it is a national center of excellence, and its payroll now reflects that prestige.