Kenya Signs Landmark Deal to Build 15 New Hospitals Under Italy Partnership

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has taken a major step towards expanding access to quality healthcare after signing a landmark partnership with Italian firm GKSD Group for the development of 15 new hospitals across the country.

President William Ruto, who witnessed the signing ceremony at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday, said the investment would address one of Kenya’s most pressing challenges: ensuring that all citizens have access to affordable, accessible and quality healthcare.

The agreement between the Government of Kenya and GKSD Group has been signed under the Government of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, a partnership framework aimed at strengthening cooperation and promoting strategic investments across the continent.

Under the agreement, 15 hospitals will be developed across 15 counties. The facilities will comprise 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals.

The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, GKSD Group Chairman Kamel Ghribi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, governors and other senior officials from Kenya and Italy.

Expanding Kenya’s Hospital Capacity

President Ruto said the investment comes at a critical time, noting that Kenya’s existing hospital capacity remains below the level required to adequately serve the country’s growing population.

Kenya currently has approximately 12 hospital beds per 10,000 people, compared with the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark of 25 beds per 10,000 people.

“By expanding our hospital capacity, strengthening the referral system and bringing specialised services closer to communities, these facilities will accelerate our progress towards Universal Health Coverage,” President Ruto said.

The new hospitals are expected to ease pressure on major referral institutions, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, by expanding referral capacity across the country.

The facilities are also expected to bring advanced diagnostic services, specialised surgery, oncology treatment and intensive care closer to communities, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances in search of specialised medical care.

Government Sets Focus on Fast Implementation

President Ruto said the National Treasury will work with the Government of Italy to finalise financing arrangements for the programme, while the Ministry of Health will fast-track the technical, regulatory and administrative processes required to commence the projects.

He stressed the importance of transparency, urgency and value for money in implementing the agreement.

The President said the success of the initiative would ultimately be judged not by the agreements signed or infrastructure constructed, but by the difference the facilities make in the lives of Kenyans.

“Ultimately, the true value of these investments will not be in the agreements we sign or the infrastructure we build, but in the lives we improve: The mother who can access specialised care closer to home and the child who receives treatment when it is needed,” he said.

He added that the Government must move swiftly from signing the agreement to securing financing, construction and, ultimately, delivery of healthcare services.

“We must now move with purpose and urgency from agreement to financing, from financing to construction, and from construction to services that transform lives,” President Ruto said.

Mattei Plan Strengthens Kenya-Italy Cooperation

The hospital programme forms part of broader cooperation between Kenya and Italy under the Mattei Plan for Africa.

The initiative seeks to promote strategic investments in areas including infrastructure, livelihoods and long-term economic transformation, with healthcare emerging as an important pillar of bilateral cooperation.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said healthcare remains at the heart of the Government’s transformation agenda and is among its key priorities.

He noted that Kenya has made progress in expanding healthcare infrastructure and modernising medical facilities and equipment, but said continued investment would be necessary to meet the needs of the population.

Kindiki also urged county governments to work closely with the National Government to consolidate gains made in the health sector and ensure that new investments translate into improved services for citizens.

GKSD Pledges Expertise

GKSD Group Chairman Kamel Ghribi said his organisation was committed to supporting Kenya’s ambition to strengthen its healthcare system.

Ghribi said his meeting with President Ruto had convinced him of the Government’s determination to improve healthcare outcomes for Kenyans.

“When I met President Ruto, I looked him in the eye and I realised he is resolute in his commitment to improve the lives of his people,” he said.

“We are looking forward to building a better healthcare system for Kenyans.”

Ghribi said GKSD Group would draw on its experience in healthcare to support the implementation of the Kenyan programme. He noted that the organisation operates 68 hospitals in Italy and 90 in Poland, in addition to healthcare operations in other countries.

He said the group would bring its experience, expertise and capacity to Kenya as the country seeks to expand access to specialised and quality healthcare.

A Major Test for Universal Health Coverage

The proposed hospitals are expected to play a significant role in Kenya’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by increasing hospital capacity and improving access to specialised medical services.

Beyond the construction of new facilities, the success of the programme will depend on timely financing, effective project implementation, adequate staffing, modern equipment and sustainable operational funding.

For millions of Kenyans, the ultimate measure of the investment will be whether quality healthcare becomes available closer to home.

With the signing of the agreement now complete, attention will shift to financing, approvals and construction as the Government moves to turn the partnership into functioning hospitals and improved healthcare services across the country.