Kenya has received a RMB 100 million (approximately sh. 1.8 billion) grant from China aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
The grant agreement was signed on Thursday in Nairobi by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan.
The grant will be directed to several key healthcare institutions across the country, including Londiani Referral Hospital in Kericho County, Baringo County Referral Hospital, Kilifi Hospital, and Misikhu Hospital in Bungoma.
Other beneficiaries include Bildad Kagia Hospital in Murang’a County and Kaimosi Farmers Training College in Vihiga.
This grant comes just days after Cabinet Secretary Mbadi expressed concerns about Kenya’s growing financial challenges.
He acknowledged that the country will need to “look inward” for resources moving forward, as it faces difficulties in securing foreign aid due to high debt-servicing costs following extensive borrowing.
“Things are not easy our fiscal space is almost nonexistent, especially with foreign countries like the USA halting their funding, and we expect the EU to follow suit,” Mbadi stated on Tuesday.
“We will be left to look inward, and this is the worst period for Kenya. We took loans, and now we are at the peak of that burden.”
Kenya is currently grappling with a debt burden of about sh. 10 trillion in both domestic and external loans.
With two-thirds of the country’s annual revenue going towards debt servicing, critical sectors such as healthcare and education are struggling with underfunding.
Additionally, Kenya and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently agreed to forgo the ninth and final review of the current lending programme, which was set to expire next month.
UDA MCA Nicholas Lorot Shot Four Times In Isiolo Town, In Stable Condition
