Kenya is set to benefit from a groundbreaking $500 million (approximately Sh64.5 billion) global initiative aimed at improving maternal and newborn health across 10 African countries. The fund, known as the Beginnings Fund, is backed by leading global donors including the Gates Foundation, Mohammed Bin Zayed Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, and the ELMA Foundation.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced Kenya’s inclusion in the initiative on Thursday following bilateral talks with Alice Kang’ethe, CEO of the Beginnings Fund, and David Gathara, the Fund’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. Kenya is among the first five countries to receive an initial allocation of $80 million (Sh10.3 billion) over the next five years.
The funding will focus on 15 high-burden counties and five additional counties selected based on equity and national priorities. These counties collectively account for over 50 percent of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths in the country.
“This partnership presents a significant opportunity to transform maternal and newborn health outcomes across Kenya,” said CS Duale. “We welcome the proposal and reaffirm our commitment to Universal Health Coverage as a means to ensure no mother or child dies from preventable causes.”
The initiative seeks to save 300,000 lives and ensure access to quality care for 34 million women and newborns by 2030. In Kenya, the investment will support the expansion of evidence-based interventions, bolster high-volume health facilities—where 87 percent of births occur—and strengthen the maternal health workforce.
Other key priorities include enhancing healthcare infrastructure, improving referral systems, and increasing the availability of essential supplies such as blood and blood products.
“Our goal is not just to save lives but to ensure that women and newborns receive quality care wherever they are,” stated Kang’ethe.
CS Duale, who was accompanied by Dr Isaak Bashir, Director of Family Health, emphasized the need for strong partnerships to advance Kenya’s broader health reform agenda, highlighting that strategic investments in maternal health are critical to achieving long-term healthcare goals.
