Kenya secures Sh1.8b China grant for hospital upgrades

Six major hospitals across Kenya are set for a significant upgrade following a Sh1.8 billion grant agreement signed between the Kenyan and Chinese governments.

The deal, inked on Thursday by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, aims to enhance healthcare infrastructure in selected regional facilities.

The hospitals set to benefit from the funding include Londiani Referral Hospital in Kericho, Baringo County Referral Hospital, and Kilifi Hospital.

Others are Misikhu Hospital, Bildad Kagia Hospital, and Kaimosi Farmers Training College, which provides medical training alongside healthcare services.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mbadi lauded China’s continued support for Kenya’s development agenda, emphasizing the importance of the partnership in improving healthcare access.

“The partnership underscores strong bilateral ties between Kenya and China,” Mbadi stated, adding that the grant will provide a much-needed boost to Kenya’s healthcare sector.

The planned hospital upgrades align with the government’s efforts to enhance Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key priority aimed at ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for all Kenyans.

The government has identified gaps in healthcare facilities, particularly in infrastructure and medical equipment, which have hampered service delivery in many hospitals.

A report from the 2023 Health Facility Census highlighted critical shortcomings in healthcare infrastructure.

Among the 14,366 health facilities surveyed, a significant number lacked essential equipment and functional infrastructure to support quality medical care.

The findings indicated that while over 80 percent of facilities had reliable power and water sources, only 45 percent relied on piped water, and half lacked functional ambulances.

Additionally, 69 percent of the hospitals did not have an electronic healthcare information system, with most relying on outdated manual record-keeping.

The report also noted that only 47 percent of facilities had disability-friendly infrastructure, and merely 4 percent met all the required standards, such as ramps, lifts, and specialized maternity beds.

It recommended increased investment in medical infrastructure, including water supply, power backup systems, and better accessibility for persons with disabilities.

“Investments should be made to increase facilities connected to piped water from 45% and ensure all-weather access to all hospitals,” the report stated.

“Further, all facilities should have power backup systems in place.”

China has been a key development partner in Kenya’s healthcare sector, supporting various projects, including the expansion of hospitals and supply of medical equipment.

The latest grant adds to previous collaborations aimed at strengthening Kenya’s health system.