Wednesday 09th September, 2026 06:59 AM|
President William Ruto has announced a major partnership between the Government of Kenya, the Government of Italy and GKSD Group that will see 15 new hospitals constructed across 15 counties.
In a statement shared on his social media handles, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Ruto said the agreement was signed at State House, Nairobi, with the partnership providing for the construction of 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals.
The president said the investment is aimed at addressing Kenya’s shortage of hospital beds while expanding access to specialised healthcare services across the country.
According to Ruto, Kenya currently has 12 hospital beds per 10,000 people, compared with the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of 25 beds per 10,000 people.
He said the new facilities will significantly increase hospital capacity and bring specialised medical services closer to communities, particularly in areas where patients currently have to travel long distances to access advanced treatment.
“These new facilities will significantly expand our hospital capacity, bring specialised medical services closer to communities, and accelerate our journey towards universal health coverage,” Ruto said.
Italy’s Mattei Plan
The projects will be implemented under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, through which Italy is seeking to strengthen strategic partnerships with African countries in key sectors, including healthcare.
The partnership comes as the government steps up efforts to expand Kenya’s specialised healthcare infrastructure and strengthen the country’s referral system.
The planned Level 5 hospitals are expected to increase counties’ capacity to handle complex medical cases and reduce pressure on major national referral facilities in Nairobi and other urban centres.
Expanding referral care
The government had earlier announced plans to construct 13 Level 5 hospitals, with each facility expected to have a capacity of about 300 beds. The hospitals are part of efforts to expand access to specialised and critical care services across the country.
The latest agreement is expected to complement these efforts by increasing the number of referral facilities available to patients across different regions.
Boosting health access
Ruto said the latest projects under the Kenya-Italy partnership would have a transformative impact on healthcare delivery.
“These projects, being implemented under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, will radically transform the lives of our people,” he said.
The 15 hospitals are expected to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare network, improve access to specialised treatment and support the government’s broader Universal Health Coverage agenda.
