Kenya To Receive Sh10 Billion To Boost Maternal And Newborn Health

Kenya is set to receive over Sh10 billion (about $80 million) to improve maternal and newborn health under a new global partnership.

The funding will come from the Beginnings Fund Initiative, a $500 million fund targeting 10 African countries. Kenya is among the first five beneficiary countries and will receive the money over a five-year period.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga hosted Alice Kang’ethe, the CEO of the Beginnings Fund Initiative, and David Gathara, the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, to discuss the partnership and how the funds will be used.

The initiative aims to save 300,000 lives of mothers and newborns and provide quality care to 34 million women and babies across Africa by 2030.

In Kenya, the program will target 15 high-burden counties with the highest rates of maternal and newborn deaths. An additional five counties will be selected based on equity and national priority.

The initiative will focus on several key areas, including equipping hospitals with essential medical tools and supplies, training more health workers, improving maternity wards and referral systems, ensuring there is enough safe blood available for emergency cases, and expanding proven interventions that reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

Kenya currently records about 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births — meaning nearly 5,000 women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Most of these deaths are linked to poor quality of care.

Dr. Oluga said the funding will help support government efforts to reduce maternal deaths and improve newborn survival, especially in counties that carry the biggest burden.

Global partners supporting the Beginnings Fund Initiative believe the investment can make a big difference if focused on facilities and counties where the need is greatest.