President Seals Deal for Fifteen New Hospitals
President William Ruto witnessed the signing of a major health partnership with Italian firm GKSD Group at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The agreement aims to develop fifteen modern hospitals across the country as part of efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage. It falls under the Government of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa and brings together national leaders, governors and Italian representatives including GKSD Chairman Kamel Ghribi.
The planned facilities will include thirteen Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals, one in each of fifteen counties. Officials highlighted that the country currently has only twelve hospital beds for every ten thousand people, far below the World Health Organisation recommendation of twenty-five. Expanding capacity is expected to ease pressure on existing major referral centres while delivering specialised services such as advanced diagnostics, surgery, oncology and intensive care closer to communities.
President Ruto described the investment as a direct response to the urgent need for accessible and quality care. “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,” he said. He stressed that the true measure of success lies not in signed documents or buildings but in improved lives, adding that the National Treasury and Ministry of Health must move swiftly from agreement to financing, construction and delivery of services.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki underscored that healthcare remains a top priority in the national transformation agenda. He noted progress already made in infrastructure and equipment modernisation and urged county governments to collaborate closely with the national administration so that new investments translate into better services for citizens. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and other dignitaries were also present at the ceremony.
GKSD Chairman Kamel Ghribi expressed confidence in the partnership, citing his organisation’s extensive experience operating sixty-eight hospitals in Italy and ninety in Poland. “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,” Ghribi said. “We are looking forward to building a better healthcare system.” The collaboration is positioned as a key pillar of broader cooperation focused on infrastructure, livelihoods and long-term economic progress.
