Kenya Upgrades Maternity and NICU Facilities
As part of its universal health coverage reforms, Kenya is equipping its Level-4 hospitals with advanced maternity wings and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The initiative is designed to improve care for high-risk births and reduce maternal and infant mortality. The upgrades aim to provide more comprehensive services closer to communities.
- Kenya's maternal mortality ratio is 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 deaths. The neonatal mortality rate is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the SDG target of 12. - The leading causes of maternal death are postpartum hemorrhage (40%), obstructed labor (28%), and eclampsia (14%). These are conditions that the upgraded facilities, equipped with features like theaters and newborn units, are intended to manage more effectively. - This initiative builds on Kenya's previous efforts to provide free maternity care, such as the "Linda Mama" programme, which was managed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). However, the recent transition to a new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has created some disruptions and uncertainty around the financing of these services. - Three key delays contribute to maternal mortality: delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching a healthcare facility, and delays in receiving adequate care once at the facility. Systemic challenges include a shortage of skilled health workers, weak referral systems, and inconsistent quality of care. - On February 24, 2026, the Ministry of Health launched a Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Committee. This multi-sectoral committee will systematically review maternal and newborn deaths to identify gaps in the health system and guide evidence-based interventions. - Specific upgrade projects are underway across the country. In Kakamega County, the Sh90-million maternity wing at Likuyani Level-4 Hospital is expected to be complete by January 2026 and will include a theatre, newborn unit, and kangaroo room. In Nyeri, the Karatina and Naru Moru Level-4 facilities were recently refurbished at a cost of 400 million shillings. - In Nairobi, the Riruta Health Centre was recently elevated to a Level-4 hospital and received modern phototherapy machines for newborn care. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence has taken over the stalled construction of the Mutuini Level-4 Hospital, with plans to upgrade it to a 400-bed facility.
