NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has ordered all hospitals—public and private—to begin reporting every maternal and child death to the Digital Health Authority (DHA) in real time, in what he termed a critical step toward ending preventable deaths in Kenyan health facilities.
The directive, issued on Wednesday, November 19, follows mounting concern over persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates, despite government efforts to strengthen health systems.
Ruto said the lack of timely, reliable data has allowed some facilities to conceal deaths, undermining national planning and life-saving interventions.
“Maternal and newborn mortalities remain unacceptably high. No woman should die while giving birth, and no baby should be lost to preventable causes,” the President said. “The Ministry of Health is under firm instruction to deliver rapid, measurable reductions through real-time reporting of every case.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days after it ends, due to pregnancy-related complications.
Most of these deaths—often linked to poor-quality care, inadequate staffing, or shortages of essential supplies—are preventable.
Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, equivalent to about 6,000 women dying each year, according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).
Infant mortality remains high at 32 deaths per 1,000 live births, driven by factors including maternal age, birth size, education level, place of delivery, and antenatal attendance.
“We cannot be losing upwards of 300 in 100,000 while the benchmark is 70,” Ruto said, adding that DHA will be responsible for ensuring full compliance from all health facilities.
To identify the worst-affected regions, the President directed the Ministry of Health to conduct a nationwide survey of county-level mortality trends.
The assessment is expected to be completed by March 2026 and will help guide targeted interventions.
During the event, WHO donated ambulances and emergency medical supplies to bolster national referral hospitals and emergency response centres.
The support will enhance patient transport, oxygen access, and emergency care, with priority given to high-burden counties including Tana River, Garissa, Samburu, Marsabit, Siaya, and Elgeyo Marakwet.
Ruto said international partners have increasingly questioned Kenya’s high mortality numbers.
“I was very embarrassed when I was confronted in New York by a good friend of Kenya who asked me, ‘How is it acceptable that upwards of 300 mothers and children die in our facilities?’” he said. “This is something that has bothered me very much.”
The government expects that strict reporting, strengthened emergency care, and targeted investments will help reduce preventable maternal and child deaths across the country.
