AfricInvest, through its blended-finance impact vehicle Transform Health Fund (THF), has invested USD 10.5 million in HewaTele, a leading Kenyan medical oxygen provider, to scale domestic production of high-quality liquid oxygen and improve access to life-saving care across the region.
Access to medical oxygen remains one of the most pressing but under-addressed challenges in East Africa’s health systems. In Kenya alone, over 70% of existing Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants are either non-operational or producing oxygen at purity levels far below the World Health Organization’s 90% minimum standard for medical use. This critical gap undermines hospitals' ability to treat respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia – the seventh leading cause of death in the country – as well as to safely conduct surgery and emergency interventions. Meanwhile, the region remains reliant on imports, leaving supply chains vulnerable to shocks and price volatility.
HewaTele is tackling this challenge by constructing a large-scale liquid oxygen (LOX) production facility in Kenya based on Air Separation Unit (ASU) technology. Once operational, the plant will produce oxygen at 99.6% purity in line with international medical standards, ensuring a reliable supply for hospitals and clinics across the region. By reducing logistical and operational barriers, the company is making medical-grade oxygen more consistently available and affordable, especially for health facilities in underserved areas.
AfricInvest’s investment will support the construction and operationalization of the new plant, including the procurement of essential equipment. Structured as a senior secured bridge facility, the financing complements the continued support of HewaTele’s existing investors – including Soros Economic Development Fund, Finnfund, and UBS Optimus Foundation – as well as a lending facility from Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), in partnership with the Government of Canada, reinforcing the collaborative effort behind HewaTele’s expansion.
“We are proud to join HewaTele’s existing investors at this pivotal stage in the company’s growth,” said Noorin Mawani and Faisal Jiwa, Co-Leads of the Transform Health Fund. “Oxygen is a cornerstone of effective healthcare – from emergency response and surgical care to treatment for newborns and respiratory illnesses. HewaTele’s approach offers a transformative solution to longstanding challenges in oxygen access across the region. We believe this investment will deliver meaningful impact by strengthening health system resilience and expanding access to care for underserved communities, and we’re excited to support the company’s next chapter.”
Beyond capital, THF will provide strategic value creation through technical assistance, opportunities for synergies within AfricInvest’s broader portfolio, and access to international markets and networks to support HewaTele’s continued growth.
By expanding access to essential medical treatment, creating quality jobs in a growing industrial sector, and strengthening local healthcare infrastructure through innovation, this investment advances Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well Being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Through this partnership, AfricInvest and HewaTele aim to ensure that medical oxygen – one of the most basic yet vital elements of care – is no longer a constraint but a cornerstone of stronger, more resilient health systems in East Africa.