A new initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and promoting green energy has been unveiled in Kakamega.
The project at Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) in Butere, was announced on Friday, August 29, during a trade and investment forum.
The $1.3 billion (Sh167 billion) project is funded by a group of investors led by a Kenyan businessman Julius Mwale based in the United States.
The investors include participants from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and France.
The initiative involves expanding Hamptons Hospital into 12 African countries, focusing on improving healthcare access and services across the continent.
“This expansion will significantly enhance healthcare access across the continent,” said MMTC in a statement.
The project also includes an $865 million (Sh11 billion) investment in solar power generation for 12 new smart cities being developed by MMTC across Africa.
The cities will focus on sustainable development and green energy.
“Our vision is to build 18 cities in 12 countries by 2050,” the statement added.
The initiative allocates Sh30 billion for agritech projects in Kenya, Cameroon and Ghana, focusing on wheat, avocado, rice and fish farming to boost food security and support local economies.
The trade and investment forum at MMTC was part of the FESTAC Africa festival, held from August 24 to 31 in Kisumu County and other hubs in the Lake Region Economic Bloc.
MMTC founder Julius Mwale said the event brought together global and local investors to explore various opportunities.
“We are creating a global hub for healthcare and green energy,” he said.
MMTC’s December 14, 2024, marathon has secured Sh772 million in sponsorship packages to support healthcare premiums for low-income families and programmes for people with disabilities.
Valued at Sh260 billion, MMTC features five districts, including an airport district, an industrial district with a solar power plant, a residential area, a golf district and a commercial district housing Hamptons Hospital and other facilities.
The forum marked a step forward in MMTC's efforts to develop integrated smart cities across Africa, aiming for inclusive growth that does not displace communities.