[REVISION HISTORY]

Kenya maternal and newborn health initiatives

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2026-08-20 09:12 UTC → 2026-08-24 08:40 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Efforts to improve maternal and newborn health in Kenya have progressed from localized partnerships to large-scale national infrastructure projects and legislative reforms. In Makueni County, a partnership was established with Laerdal Global Health to implement the ‘Safer Births Bundle of Care’ (SBBC) programme. This initiative focuses on equipping frontline health workers with clinical tools, such as fetal and newborn heart-rate monitors, to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Expanding on these efforts, the Kenyan government announced the construction of 10 specialized maternal and newborn health facilities across several counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. Supported by a 4.4 billion Shilling grant from the Amsons Group via the ‘Mama na Mtoto Kwanza’ initiative, these 250-bed facilities will provide services ranging from antenatal care to neonatal intensive care. To complement the new infrastructure, the government is increasing workforce capacity through training and planned national recruitment of 5,000 nurses and midwives, while also allocating 4 billion Shillings through the Social Health Authority to support deliveries at local facilities. Recent developments include the implementation of the Nairobi City County Health Services and Management Act, 2026. Assented to by Governor Johnson Sakaja, this law grants Level Five hospitals greater autonomy by establishing them as independent county entities managed by Hospital Management Boards and competitively appointed CEOs. At the inaugural Kenya Health Summit 2026, officials announced an investment of approximately KSh12.5 billion to improve survival rates, including KSh4 billion for newborn care and KSh2.5 billion for family planning. The Social Health Authority (SHA) has already reimbursed over KSh17 billion for maternal health services, with Pumwani Maternity Hospital reporting nearly zero maternal deaths over the last 18 months. Furthermore, the government is expanding newborn screening and specialized treatment for sickle cell disease across 17 high-burden counties.

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