Treasury will also inject Sh3.5 billion to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) for essential maternal and newborn health supplies, in a major push aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
The funding was announced during the launch of the Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (Ewene) initiative, under which modern medical equipment has also been dispatched to 25 counties that carry the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths.
The equipment was flagged off by President William Ruto together with Health CS Aden Duale and senior officials during the official launch of the programme.
“At the centre of this plan is an immediate six-month Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative, running from now until November 2026. This will be an urgent nationwide effort to deliver measurable results and accelerate action where it matters most,” Ruto said.
Duale said Kenya will strengthen cooperation with the World Health Organization and other international partners to help meet global targets for reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
WHO’s representative to Kenya, Neema Kimambo, said the three UN agencies will support the initiative through technical expertise, resources and advocacy.
“We stand ready to support the Ministry of Health and county governments across the five pillars of the Rapid Results Initiative: governance, Health workforce, commodities, data and quality of care and commodities such as essential medications and FP,” Kimambo said.
Council of Governors chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said county governments will work closely with the national government to ensure health facilities are properly staffed, equipped and funded to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns.
The equipment flagged off includes ventilators, newborn resuscitative machines, oxygen concentrators, modern operating tables and continuous positive airway pressure machines, among others. The equipment will first be delivered to public and private health facilities in high-burden counties.
The counties targeted are Mombasa, Garissa, Migori, Kisii, Kitui, Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru, West Pokot, Tana River, Wajir, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma.
Others are Homa Bay, Kwale, Siaya, Kilifi, Kakamega, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Meru, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Mandera and Turkana.
Health officials said the combined investment in financing, equipment and supplies is aimed at improving care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, especially in facilities that handle the highest number of complicated deliveries.
Globally, maternal and newborn deaths have reduced since 2000, but progress has remained uneven, according to the WHO. Sub-Saharan Africa still carries the heaviest burden, accounting for most maternal deaths worldwide and a significant share of newborn deaths.
The situation remains serious in Kenya. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 shows the maternal mortality rate stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Spearheaded by the WHO, Unicef and the UNFPA, the Ewene initiative is a global programme focused on reducing maternal and newborn deaths and preventing stillbirths.
It promotes quality care during pregnancy, delivery and after birth, with countries expected to lead implementation at national level.
Under the initiative, Ruto said Kenya aims to record a major improvement in maternal and newborn health outcomes by November this year.
He said the combined interventions—financing through SHA, supply support through Kemsa, and new equipment distribution—are meant to close gaps that have continued to drive preventable deaths among mothers and newborns, especially in high-burden counties.
