Tanzanian Business Group Pledges £28 Million for Ten Maternal Hospitals in Kenya
Nairobi, 29 April 2026
Amsons Group has committed 4.5 billion Kenyan shillings to build ten specialist maternal hospitals across Kenya, targeting over one million underserved women in high-risk counties where 5,000 children and 3,600 mothers die during delivery annually. The three-year initiative will create 2,500 additional hospital beds specifically for maternal and child healthcare in remote areas.
Historic Partnership Sealed at State House
The landmark agreement was formalised yesterday, 28 April 2026, when Amsons Group signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health at State House, Nairobi [1]. The pan-African business conglomerate, led by Tanzanian businessman Edha Nahdi, will operate under a Build, Equip, and Transfer (BoT) model, fully financing the construction and equipping of all ten facilities [1]. President William Ruto welcomed the initiative, describing it as “a timely intervention” that will enable the government to “guarantee maternal health and curb maternal and newborn mortality as part of our national development agenda” [1][2].
Strategic Distribution Across High-Burden Counties
The ten Level 4 hospitals will be strategically positioned across counties identified as high-burden maternal death areas, with Nairobi receiving two facilities whilst Kwale, Mombasa, Garissa, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and West Pokot will each host one hospital [1][2]. Each facility will provide 250 beds, creating a combined capacity of 2500 beds dedicated to maternal and child healthcare [1][2]. The project, dubbed the “Amsons Mama na Mtoto Kwanza project,” specifically targets rural and marginalised communities where access to emergency obstetric care remains critically limited [1].
Three-Year Implementation Timeline
Construction will commence during the 2026/2027 fiscal year and span three consecutive fiscal periods through 2028/2029 [1]. Amsons Group will invest more than US$3.5 million in the construction of each facility, with the total commitment reaching US$35 million [1][2]. The government will support implementation by providing staffing, medical supplies, and integration into the national health system, ensuring seamless operation once the facilities are transferred [2]. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale had preliminary discussions about the project on 28 April 2026, emphasising its alignment with Universal Health Coverage reforms [2].
Corporate Social Investment Model
Edha Nahdi, Managing Director of Amsons Group, positioned the investment within the company’s “treasured shared prosperity model,” explaining that “Amsons Group and its 16 subsidiaries operate in more than seven countries in Africa” [1][2]. The conglomerate maintains controlling stakes in major Kenyan companies including Bamburi Cement Plc and East Africa Portland Cement, establishing its credentials as a significant corporate investor in the country [1][2]. Nahdi emphasised that “Amsons Group is not building hospitals; we are helping advance healthcare delivery in Kenya,” highlighting the initiative’s focus on systemic healthcare improvement rather than mere infrastructure development [1].