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Urge Inside Health| East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Kenya moves US$80 million maternal and newborn health partnership into implementation
Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the Beginnings Fund have held a consultative meeting on implementing a five-year, US$80 million investment plan to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths.
The meeting took place at Afya House in Nairobi on 29 October. Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga met a Beginnings Fund team led by Chief Executive Officer Alice Kang’ethe. Discussions focused on the implementation pathway and coordination arrangements. The Ministry published its account on 2 November.
The partnership predates the meeting. A cooperative agreement was signed on 3 August 2026, and the current phase is intended to turn it into coordinated delivery across 21 counties with a high burden of maternal and newborn deaths.
The plan covers 200 priority facilities: 20 Level 5 hospitals, 136 Level 4 hospitals and 44 high-volume health centres. It will strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care, access to essential commodities and medical technologies, and health-worker training. It will also improve referral systems, blood availability, and maternity and newborn infrastructure. Maternal and newborn health data will be integrated into TaifaCare.
Dr Oluga is designated to co-chair the Steering Committee. Implementation is to be guided by clear responsibilities, measurable milestones, performance-based financing, county participation and progressive domestic financing.
According to the Ministry, the plan is expected to reach 5.9 million mothers and newborns and prevent an estimated 46,494 maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2030.
Sources: Kenya Ministry of Health
Urge Inside Health| East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Nairobi, Kenya | 2 November 2026
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Ministry of Health officials and the Beginnings Fund team.
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