Kenya is building 10 Specialized Maternal and Newborn Health Facilities across the country

Kenya is stepping up targeted investments to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal and newborn deaths, with the Government moving to establish 10 comprehensive maternal and newborn health facilities in counties with the highest burden.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held bilateral deliberations with Governors and their representatives, led by Council of Governors Health Committee Chairperson and Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir, on translating President William Ruto’s directive to prioritize maternal and newborn health into concrete action.

The 250-bed specialised facilities will be established in Nairobi, Bomet, Kwale, Mombasa, Garissa, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru, West Pokot and Uasin Gishu.

They will bring critical maternal and newborn health services closer to communities while advancing Universal Health Coverage.

Supported by a 4.4 billion Shillings grant from Amsons Group through the Mama na Mtoto Kwanza (Mother and Child First) initiative, in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the project complements Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere programme and will address gaps in specialized care.

Each facility will integrate antenatal and postnatal care, labour and recovery services, obstetric care, Caesarean sections, maternal and neonatal intensive care, theatres, neonatal intensive care units and post-Caesarean wards.

This will create a comprehensive continuum of care for mothers and newborns.

The investment will prioritise areas of greatest need following the mapping of 26 counties that collectively account for approximately 60 per cent of Kenya’s maternal deaths.

The targeted approach is aligned with World Health Organization benchmarks and Kenya’s commitment to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Workforce capacity is also being strengthened under the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere programme.

So far, 900 healthcare workers have been trained in obstetric care and another 900 in comprehensive newborn care.

The ongoing recruitment of 5,000 nurses and midwives will further expand the skilled workforce required to support the services.

Complementing the infrastructure investment, 4 billion Kenyan shillings is being channeled through the Social Health Authority to support maternal deliveries at Levels 2 and 3 facilities, widening access to safe and quality maternity care.

With groundbreaking expected by September, the discussions focused on strengthening coordination between the National and County Governments and fast-tracking implementation to deliver measurable improvements in maternal and newborn survival.

The meeting brought together Governors Anyang’ Nyong’o of Kisumu and Cecily Mbarire of Embu; Deputy Governors Shadrack Rotich of Bomet and Achaule Robert of West Pokot.

There are also County Executive Committee Members led by Dr. Gregory Ganda of Kisumu; Ministry of Health Director for Family Health Dr. Bashir Issak; Presidential Advisor on Health Wilson Aruasa; Head of Infrastructure, Projects and Grants Management Dr. Hezron Omolo; and other Ministry officials.

Accelerating Strategic Investments in Kenya’s Health Infrastructure

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale chaired a high-level strategic consultative meeting to advance the development of 13 new Level 5, 300-bed comprehensive county referral hospitals, in line with the Presidential directive to strengthen Kenya’s health infrastructure and accelerate the country’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The KES 29 billion investment will see the state-of-the-art facilities established across Kilifi, Mandera, Marsabit, Embu, Migori, Nyamira, Turkana, Baringo, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok and Laikipia.

The programme will complement the ongoing first phase of the 2,000-bed Kiplombe multi-specialty hospital and the planned Level 6 facility in Mombasa, significantly expanding access to quality and specialised healthcare.

The initiative is anchored on equity and need, with the selection of counties informed by population size, disease burden, existing health infrastructure and the availability of funding through Government, development partners and private-sector partnerships.

This strategic approach will help direct investments to areas with the greatest need while addressing disparities in access to specialised services.

The proposed hospitals will form an important addition to Kenya’s health infrastructure, currently comprising 14,883 health facilities, while advancing the health sector priorities under the Fifth Administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The investments will further strengthen the WHO health system building blocks, including service delivery, the health workforce, health information systems, medical products and technologies, health financing, and leadership and governance.

During the meeting, the CS reviewed the proposed hospital designs, which prioritise modern, sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The facilities will incorporate green engineering, increased use of solar energy, adequate spaces for patients and healthcare workers, and designs that promote efficiency, sustainability and a better healthcare environment.

Each hospital will be equipped to provide a higher level of specialised and critical care, including at least 16 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 10 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, supported by modern diagnostic and treatment equipment.

This will strengthen counties’ capacity to manage complex conditions and reduce the burden on national referral facilities.

The meeting also focused on translating the plans into implementation, with emphasis on clear timelines, county-level coordination, accountability and regular progress reporting.

The CS stressed the need to identify and address potential bottlenecks early to ensure that the projects move efficiently from design to construction and eventual service delivery.

Given that health is a devolved function, Hon. Duale underscored the importance of close collaboration between the National and County Governments.

County preparedness, including provision of land, approvals, utilities, staffing and operational readiness, must progress alongside construction to ensure the facilities become functional and deliver services to communities without delay.

The investments mark a significant milestone in the transformation of Kenya’s health infrastructure.

By expanding specialised care, embracing modern technology and sustainable design, and strengthening national-county collaboration, the Government is laying the foundation for a more equitable, resilient and responsive health system that brings quality healthcare closer to every Kenyan.