Kenya is set to receive Sh10.4 billion (USD 80 million) in new funding aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths, following the signing of a five-year cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Beginnings Fund.
The investment will support the implementation of the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan, with the government targeting improvements in maternal and newborn health services across 21 counties identified as having the highest burden of preventable deaths.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale described the partnership as a significant boost to Kenya's healthcare reforms.
“The move marks a major milestone in advancing equitable, high-quality maternal and newborn healthcare through nationally led reforms,” said Duale.
The programme is expected to reach nearly 200 high-volume health facilities and benefit close to six million women and newborns by 2030, while helping the country achieve its 90-90-80-80 maternal and newborn health targets.
The initiative is backed by the Beginnings Fund in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other international partners. It seeks to strengthen Kenya's capacity to prevent avoidable maternal and newborn deaths while building a stronger and more sustainable healthcare system.
According to the Ministry of Health, the funding complements ongoing government interventions, including the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) launched under the Taifa Care programme.
Priority areas include improving the quality of maternal and newborn care, strengthening leadership and accountability, expanding sustainable financing, and promoting innovative healthcare solutions.
The programme will also focus on reducing stillbirths through targeted investments in critical health services.
Additional funding will be directed towards improving maternity and neonatal infrastructure, expanding the health workforce, strengthening emergency referral networks, increasing access to lifesaving medicines and essential medical supplies, and accelerating digital health technologies alongside stronger health information systems.
The Ministry said the investment also supports Kenya's Universal Health Coverage agenda and aligns with the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by ensuring development partners coordinate their investments around national priorities.
Duale said the government is promoting a country-led approach to healthcare transformation, urging development partners to move away from fragmented projects and instead support coordinated investments that strengthen public health systems and deliver lasting results.
He added that achieving the programme's objectives will require close collaboration between the national government, county administrations and development partners, while commending the Beginnings Fund for aligning its support with Kenya's healthcare priorities.