Kenya among African countries to benefit from Sh64bn to boost maternal, newborn health

Health CS Aden Duale, accompanied by Director of Family Health Dr Isaak Bashir held a bilateral meeting with Alice Kang'ethe, CEO of the Beginnings Fund and David Gathara, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, July 11, 2025. /ADEN DUALE/X

Kenya is among the first five African countries selected to benefit from a $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) global initiative aimed at accelerating progress in maternal and newborn health.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday held bilateral talks with Alice Kang’ethe, CEO of the Beginnings Fund, and David Gathara, the Fund’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, to explore strategic partnerships under the new initiative.

The countries will receive an initial $80 million (Sh10.3 billion) over five years as part of efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in 10 African countries.

The investment will target 15 high-burden counties and five additional ones selected based on equity and government priorities.

These areas account for over half of all maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths nationally.

“This partnership presents a significant opportunity to transform maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kenya,” Duale said.

“We welcome the proposal and reaffirm our commitment to Universal Health Coverage as a means to ensure no mother or child dies from preventable causes.”

The Fund, a collaborative effort backed by global donors including the Mohammed Bin Zayed Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, the ELMA Foundation, and the Gates Foundation, aims to save 300,000 lives and ensure quality care for 34 million women and newborns across 10 African countries by 2030.

In Kenya, the focus will be on scaling up evidence-based interventions, equipping high-volume health facilities where 87 per cent of births occur, expanding the maternal health workforce, improving infrastructure and referral systems, and strengthening the availability of blood and blood products.

“Our goal is not just to save lives but to ensure that women and newborns receive quality care wherever they are,” Kang’ethe said.

Duale was accompanied by Dr Isaak Bashir, Director of Family Health, during the discussions.

The CS called for deeper collaboration with partners, noting that strategic investments in maternal health are essential to Kenya’s broader health reform agenda.