Earlier this year, a new fund was launched by a coalition of global philanthropies to help accelerate maternal and newborn survival across Africa.
Known as the Beginnings Fund, it is set to provide Kenya with Sh10.34 billion ($80 million) over the next five years.
Kenya is one of ten African countries partnering with the fund to make targeted investments in the products, people, and systems needed to improve and scale maternal and newborn health.
With over 300,000 maternal and newborn deaths on the continent, the fund is backed by support from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, The ELMA Foundation, Gates Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Patchwork Collective, and others.
Its focus is on reducing preventable deaths and improving access to quality care for millions of mothers and babies by 2030.
This funding will be crucial for Kenya’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) programme. It will be directed towards high-burden health facilities responsible for a significant share of maternal and newborn fatalities.
According to Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, ensuring all facilities are adequately staffed, trained, and equipped will be key.
“Priority actions will include scaling up evidence-based interventions, equipping health facilities with essential supplies and equipment, strengthening the health workforce through training, improving infrastructure and referral systems, and ensuring a reliable blood supply,” he said.
The programme will initially focus on 15 high-burden counties, with an additional five to be selected based on government priorities and equity considerations.
This targeted approach ensures resources are allocated where they are most needed, maximising impact across both public and private healthcare facilities. By concentrating efforts in regions with the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates, the initiative aims to reduce preventable deaths and strengthen the overall health system.
Dr Oluga emphasised that the partnership aligns with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, reinforcing the government’s commitment to equitable and accessible healthcare. He described every maternal or newborn death as a preventable tragedy, highlighting the urgent need for scalable, life-saving interventions.
“This funding will help us bridge critical gaps in our healthcare system. It ensures that women and children, no matter where they live, can access the care they need to survive and thrive,” he said.
