NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has signed a landmark cooperation framework with the Beginnings Fund, unlocking an investment of USD 80 million (approximately Sh10.4 billion) over the next five years to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare and accelerate efforts to eliminate preventable deaths among mothers and infants.
The agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Beginnings Fund will support the implementation of Kenya’s Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan, helping the country achieve its 90-90-80-80 maternal and newborn health targets through nationally led reforms.
The programme will focus on 21 high-burden counties and nearly 200 high-volume health facilities, with interventions expected to benefit close to six million women and newborns by 2030.
Supported by the Beginnings Fund, the Gates Foundation, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other international partners, the initiative seeks to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths while strengthening Kenya’s health system.
The partnership complements the government’s ongoing maternal and newborn health reforms, including the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) launched by President William Ruto under the Taifa Care programme.
Key investments will strengthen leadership, improve the quality of maternal and newborn care, promote innovation, enhance sustainable financing and reinforce accountability to reduce maternal mortality, newborn deaths and stillbirths.
The programme will also finance the procurement of lifesaving medicines, essential medical commodities and health technologies, while improving maternity and neonatal infrastructure across participating health facilities.
Additional investments will expand the health workforce, strengthen emergency referral systems, accelerate digital health solutions and enhance health information systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
The Ministry of Health said the interventions will further advance Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda while aligning development partner support with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the Ministry is championing a country-led approach to health sector transformation, emphasizing that development partnerships should move away from fragmented projects towards coordinated investments that strengthen government systems.
Duale said successful implementation of the programme will depend on close collaboration between the national government, county governments and development partners.
He commended the Beginnings Fund for aligning its investment with Kenya’s national health priorities and called for a unified implementation framework anchored on one plan, one budget and one accountability system to improve transparency, efficiency and collective responsibility.
“The Ministry is championing a country-led approach to health sector transformation. Development partnerships must shift from fragmented projects to coordinated investments that strengthen government systems and deliver sustainable health outcomes,” Duale said.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that the cooperation framework marks a significant milestone in ensuring every woman has access to safe, quality maternity care while giving every newborn the best possible chance to survive and thrive.
The signing ceremony was attended by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti, Beginnings Fund Chief Executive Officer Alice Kang’ethe, World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Neema Kimambo, Director of Family Health Dr. Bashir Issak, county government representatives, development partners, implementing agencies and senior Ministry of Health officials.
