Construction of a health centre of excellence and a training facility in Kisii county is underway.
This follows a deal that was signed by the UK and Kenya in January 2021.
The Kisii Medical City will be established under the Kenya UK Health Alliance and the Sustainable Urban Economic Development programmes.
The centre will train the healthcare workforce to UK standards and adapt to UK curricula to fit Kenyan needs.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati said the medical city will support other medical schools in three other universities in the Lake Region Economic Bloc. The three are Maseno University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and Egerton University.
“The Medical City will be anchored in an eco-friendly ecosystem that is being developed by the Kisii Municipality under the UK-funded Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme,” he said.
Arati spoke on Thursday during a press conference at the Council of Governors offices in Nairobi.
With him was Julius Court, the UK Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Kenya.
Also in attendance were MPs from Kisii county and the leadership of Kisii University and Kisii Municipality.
Arati said Kisii Municipality has an extensive Urban Economic Plan detailing key value chains and climate resilient infrastructure development projects to unlock the economic potential of the county.
“The programme is also supporting three value chains in the municipality, including avocado processing, banana value addition and integrated waste management,” he said.
The governor said the leadership in Kisii has reiterated its commitment to implementing the programmes to the British High Commission and that he will soon lead a delegation to President William Ruto to brief him on the current status of the implementation.
“I commit to work with all partners to ensure that they are implemented swiftly for the benefit of the people of Kisii.”
Court said his government is excited to partner with Kisii county in programmes seeking to uplift the lives of the people.
“The health partnership is terrific. We will work with President William Ruto on this kind of issues,” he added.
Court said an avocado processing factory will be opened in Kisii in November through the partnership.
“The factory will offer 100 direct jobs to residents. More than 3,000 farmers will be selling the produce to the factory,” he said.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta witnessed Kenya and the UK sign the Kenya UK Health Alliance deal.
Edited by A.N
