NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 10 – Kenya and China have moved a step closer to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the health sector following high-level talks held today between senior government officials from both countries.
The meeting brought together Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya, H.E. Guo Haiyan.
The discussions were aimed at operationalising commitments made during recent engagements between President William Ruto and Chinese President Xi Jinping on deepening the Kenya–China strategic partnership.
At the centre of the talks was a proposal to develop five modern hospitals across five counties Kericho, Bungoma, Murang’a, Baringo and Kilifi as part of a broader effort to expand access to quality healthcare services and strengthen regional referral capacity.
According to officials briefed on the meeting, planning and technical engagements for the hospitals in Baringo and Kericho counties are already at an advanced stage, signalling potential early rollout of construction activities once financing and implementation frameworks are finalised.
The discussions also examined financing models, implementation timelines, technical cooperation, and capacity-building opportunities that could accompany the hospital projects. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the facilities are equipped with modern medical technology and supported by skills transfer to Kenyan healthcare workers.
Senior officials from the National Treasury, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs also participated in the meeting, underscoring the multi-agency coordination required to deliver the ambitious infrastructure programme.
The hospital projects align with the government’s broader agenda to strengthen universal health coverage and reduce pressure on national referral facilities by decentralising specialised medical services to counties.
Kenya and China have maintained long-standing cooperation in infrastructure, health, education and trade, with several flagship projects already implemented across the country. Officials say the latest talks signal a continued expansion of that partnership into critical social sectors.
Further technical consultations are expected in the coming weeks as both governments work toward formalising agreements and implementation timelines.
