Kenyan healthcare tycoon Jayesh Saini wins approval to take control of Africa Business Corp.

Kenyan healthcare tycoon Jayesh Umesh Saini has secured regulatory approval to take sole control of Africa Business Corporation and Development Ltd. (ABCD), a Dubai-based investment and business development group with operations across Africa. The approval clears a key regulatory hurdle, although the transaction value and detailed terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

The Competition Authority of Kenya announced the decision in Gazette Notice No. 16875, dated Sept. 21, 2026. The notice, signed by Director-General David Kemei, said the authority had authorized the proposed transaction under Section 46(6) of Kenya’s Competition Act, without providing further financial details.

A broader African business reach 

Africa Business Corporation and Development operates across more than 15 African countries, with interests spanning healthcare, pharmaceuticals, insurance, financial services, digital technology, energy and infrastructure. The group also has exposure to clean-energy manufacturing, artificial intelligence and medical equipment, with operations extending into the Middle East and Asia. 

The company says it serves more than 15 million customers annually and employs over 4,000 people. Its portfolio includes Star Discover Insurance and Medical Administrators Kenya Ltd., businesses that give Saini interests beyond healthcare delivery and into insurance products, medical claims administration and the financing of patient care.

Inside Saini’s healthcare empire 

Saini built his healthcare business around hospitals, outpatient clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and specialized medical services. His entry into the sector followed the example of his father, Dr. Umesh Saini, who founded Nairobi West Hospital in the 1980s. Jayesh Saini later established Bliss Healthcare, which became a major private outpatient care network in Kenya. 

Founded in 2012, Bliss operates about 65 outpatient clinics across 37 Kenyan counties, serving patients in towns including Bungoma, Eldoret, Kikuyu, Migori, Meru and Mlolongo. Its services include consultations, laboratory testing, pharmacy operations, dental treatment and specialized care. The network also has branches in Tanzania, extending Saini’s reach beyond his home market. 

Saini established Lifecare Hospitals in 2017, adding hospital facilities and digital health services to his portfolio. His other interests include pharmaceutical supplier Dinlas Pharma, Fertility Point Kenya, Medical Administrators Kenya Ltd. and Star Discover Insurance. Through pharmaceutical manufacturing, he has sought to supply medicines to Kenya and neighbouring markets.

Insurance adds another growth engine 

The acquisition brings insurance and healthcare administration closer to Saini’s existing medical operations. Star Discover Insurance provides cover for medical treatment, motor vehicles, property and accidents, while Medical Administrators Kenya coordinates healthcare providers and processes claims for medical insurance schemes. 

The combination could give Saini greater influence across several stages of the healthcare value chain, from outpatient treatment and hospital services to pharmaceutical supply and insurance administration. However, the precise operational changes planned after the acquisition, including any integration of the businesses, were not disclosed in the regulatory notice.

Kenya’s healthcare market expands 

The transaction comes as Kenya’s private healthcare sector expands its capacity. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ 2026 Economic Survey reported that beds in private healthcare facilities increased to 50,828 in 2025, from 47,124 a year earlier, pointing to continued investment in the country’s medical infrastructure. 

Insurance also offers room for growth, with industry reports estimating Kenya’s insurance penetration at 2.63% in 2025. Saini’s expanded interests could position him to compete more directly across healthcare delivery and financing, where providers are seeking ways to reach more patients and manage treatment costs. 

His competitors include Equity Group CEO James Mwangi, whose financial services group has supported the expansion of the Equity Afya healthcare network. The extent to which Saini’s acquisition changes the competitive landscape will depend on ABCD’s assets, the businesses brought under his control and how the group deploys capital across its African markets.