Health CS Aden Duale./STEPHEN ASTARIKO Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the persistently high maternal mortality rates in some counties, stating that such tragedies should not occur in this day and age.
Pastoralist counties, including Garissa, Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Marsabit, and Isiolo, continue to report the highest maternal mortality rates in Kenya.
Contributing factors include limited access to quality healthcare, low socioeconomic status, cultural practices, and inadequate medical infrastructure.
Speaking in Garissa, Duale emphasized that while health is a devolved function, the national government still bears a critical responsibility in ensuring that alarming maternal mortality figures are brought down.
“Maternal mortality is not only unacceptable and immoral—it is unconstitutional. This cannot be allowed to continue in modern Kenya."
Both the national and county governments must work hand-in-hand to address this issue,” said Duale.
He underscored the priority the government is placing on reducing maternal deaths, describing it as a key indicator of a functional healthcare system.
Duale also hinted at convening a meeting with governors from the most affected counties to chart a way forward.
Duale criticised some medical practitioners, accusing them of contributing to the crisis through absenteeism or professional incompetence.
“It is unacceptable that our mothers, daughters, and women walk into health facilities happy and healthy, only to die along with their babies. Their days [the errant medics] are numbered,” he warned.
“Going forward, it will not be business as usual. Health professionals being paid with taxpayers’ money must be held accountable. We will work with regulatory bodies to ensure that any medic found culpable of negligence or malpractice is dismissed,” he added.
Garissa County Health CEC Ahmednadhir Omar, who also spoke at the event, said the county government is working tirelessly to reduce maternal deaths.
He acknowledged that 17 maternal deaths were recorded at the Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital in the first quarter of the year (January to March), but noted that no deaths had occurred in April due to new measures.
Omar said investigations are ongoing to determine if any health workers were negligent, adding that disciplinary action will be taken where necessary. He welcomed the CS’s tough stance on professional accountability.
“As a county, we are committed to ensuring mothers receive timely care. But we also urge the community to avoid delays in seeking medical help, especially for procedures like Caesarean sections,” said Omar.
He added that the county has introduced several initiatives to improve maternal health, including the training of healthcare workers and the construction of a dedicated Mother and Child Hospital—a 400-bed facility under development at the Garissa County Referral Hospital.
Last year, the county, in collaboration with the Red Cross Foundation, relaunched an initiative deploying five ambulances staffed with medical personnel to offer emergency care in remote areas.
