Government Allocates Ksh12.5 Billion to Maternal and Newborn Health

The government has announced Ksh12.5 billion in funding towards maternal and newborn health as Kenya steps up efforts to reduce preventable deaths across the country.

According to a statement dated August 19, Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale, who had joined First Lady Rachel Ruto for a high-level session on maternal and newborn health during the second day of the inaugural 2026 Kenya Health Summit, said the government was directing substantial resources towards improving maternal and newborn survival.

Duale said 26 high-burden counties have been listed for targeted intervention under the Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (EWENE) programme and the 90.90.80.80 coverage target.

“On the second day of the inaugural 2026 Kenya Health Summit, we joined Her Excellency the First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, for a high-level session on Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (EWENE), focusing on the 26 high-burden counties mapped for targeted intervention under the 90.90.80.80 coverage target,” Aden Duale stated.

Govt Expands Maternal Care and Sickle Cell Interventions

He stated that the initiative seeks to expand access to quality maternal and newborn care, strengthen referral systems and ensure women and newborns receive timely access to lifesaving services.

The CS said the government has allocated Ksh4 billion for delivery and essential newborn care at the primary-care level, Ksh1 billion for lifesaving commodities and Ksh2.5 billion for family planning.

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He further noted that Ksh5 billion will be allocated annually to recruit an additional 5,000 nurses.

Duale also said the Social Health Authority (SHA) has reimbursed more than Ksh17 billion for maternal health services, while Ksh2 billion is allocated specifically to maternity and newborn care.

Sickle cell disease was also a key focus during the discussions, with 17 counties identified as high-burden areas and approximately 48,000 children reportedly born with the condition annually.

He stated that the government is prioritising newborn screening, early diagnosis and treatment, comprehensive care at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and advanced red cell exchange transfusion.

New System to Track Maternal, Newborn Deaths Daily

The government cited progress at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, which handles more than 16,000 deliveries annually.

According to Duale, sustained investment and improved quality of care have contributed to nearly zero maternal deaths at the facility over the past 18 months.

More than 300 health workers have been trained, while emergency simulation drills have been conducted in 29 counties and newborn-care mentorship has commenced in 13 counties.

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Duale also noted that the government has launched Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) and Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) dashboards to enable daily tracking of maternal and newborn deaths.

The systems are expected to help identify gaps and trigger timely interventions.

The measures are complemented by the SHA 922 Lifeline and the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre, which aim to improve emergency response and ensure that women and newborns can access lifesaving care when needed.

Duale said the interventions represent a shift from reacting to preventable deaths to anticipating risks, strengthening health systems and ensuring every woman and newborn receives lifesaving care when and where it is needed.

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A photo showing Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale and Mama Rachel Ruto during the second day of Kenya Health Summit at the KICC. Photo Aden Duale