Kenya receives 1.8 B Grant from China to improve healthcare

Kenya has secured a 100 million Chinese Yuan (Ksh.1.8 billion) grant from China to help strengthen its healthcare system.

This funding is expected to improve medical services in several key hospitals across the country, providing better healthcare access to thousands of citizens.

*Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, at the Treasury Building in Nairobi*

On Thursday in Nairobi, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi officially signed the grant agreement with the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan.

The signing ceremony marked an important moment in the long-standing partnership between Kenya and China, especially in the health sector.

Hospitals That Will Benefit from the Grant

Several hospitals and medical institutions across different counties will benefit from this generous financial support. These include:

Londiani Referral Hospital in Kericho County
Baringo County Referral Hospital
Kilifi Hospital
Misikhu Hospital in Bungoma County Bildad Kagia Hospital in Murang’a County
Kaimosi Farmers Training College in Vihiga County

These hospitals and training institutions will receive funds to upgrade their facilities, purchase modern medical equipment, and improve patient care.

This is expected to enhance the quality of healthcare services and reduce the burden on overstretched medical facilities.

Kenya’s Growing Financial Challenges

This funding from China comes at a time when Kenya is facing serious financial struggles.

Just a few days ago, Treasury CS John Mbadi warned that Kenya can no longer rely on foreign aid and must now focus on finding internal solutions to its economic challenges.

“Things are not easy — our financial space is shrinking, and we are running out of options. Foreign countries like the USA have already stopped funding us, and we expect the European Union to follow soon,” Mbadi said on Tuesday.

Kenya has been dealing with a huge debt crisis, with total external and domestic debt reaching nearly Ksh.10 trillion.

The government now spends about two-thirds of its annual revenue on repaying these debts. As a result, critical sectors such as healthcare and education are left with very little funding, making it difficult to improve services for citizens.

Kenya and IMF Drop Key Lending Programme

To make matters even more challenging, Kenya recently dropped the ninth and final review of its International Monetary Fund (IMF) lending programme.

This programme was supposed to expire next month, but the government and IMF decided to end it early.

Without this programme at IMF, Kenya may face more difficulties in securing international financial support.

This means the country must find new ways to generate revenue and manage its debt while ensuring that essential services like healthcare remain operational.

A Critical Lifeline for Kenya’s Healthcare Sector

Despite these challenges, the grant from China provides a much-needed financial boost to the healthcare sector.

By directing these funds toward upgrading hospitals and training medical professionals, Kenya can ensure better healthcare access for its citizens, especially in underserved areas.

The government hopes that similar partnerships with international allies will continue to support key sectors as Kenya works toward achieving financial stability and economic recovery.