NAIROBI, Kenya – Every day in Kenya, at least 15 mothers die, 92 newborns lose their lives and 96 babies are stillborn — grim statistics the Ministry of Health says are largely driven by preventable causes linked to gaps in care before, during and after childbirth.
New data paints a troubling picture of maternal and newborn health in the country, with postpartum haemorrhage — severe bleeding after delivery — emerging as the single biggest killer of mothers, accounting for 37 per cent of maternal deaths.
It is followed by eclampsia, caused by dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy, at 22 per cent, and sepsis at 12 per cent.
Other direct causes include complications during labour and unsafe abortions.
Beyond clinical complications, indirect health and social factors continue to claim lives.
Anaemia contributes to 60 per cent of indirect maternal deaths, while cardiovascular diseases and HIV/AIDS each account for 19 per cent, with HIV-related risks higher in some counties.
Malaria remains a threat in endemic regions, responsible for seven per cent of indirect deaths.
Social factors such as adolescent pregnancies and high-parity pregnancies among women over 35 further elevate the risk of complications.
The ‘Three Delays’ Crisis
According to the Ministry of Health, many maternal deaths occur due to delays in accessing and receiving care — commonly referred to as the “Three Delays”.
The first delay, accounting for about 30 per cent of maternal deaths, occurs when women fail to seek care in time.
This is often driven by poor recognition of danger signs, lack of awareness of available services, financial constraints and cultural or religious beliefs.
The second delay involves challenges in reaching health facilities and contributes to roughly 25 per cent of maternal deaths.
Long distances, poor roads, lack of transport and weak referral systems remain major barriers, particularly in rural areas where women may travel more than 10 kilometres to reach a facility — double the World Health Organisation’s recommended five kilometres.
The third and most deadly delay happens within health facilities themselves, contributing to about 45 per cent of maternal deaths.
These include staff shortages, insufficiently skilled health workers, lack of blood products, misdiagnosis, absence of essential drugs and limited access to surgical services.
Only four per cent of health facilities currently meet Basic Maternity Readiness standards, while just five meet Comprehensive Readiness thresholds, highlighting deep gaps in emergency preparedness.
Experts Warn on Postpartum Haemorrhage
Professor Moses Obimbo, a gynaecologist and obstetrician at the University of Nairobi and a member of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS), says urgent action is needed to tackle postpartum haemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths in Kenya and across Africa.
“For many years, blood loss after childbirth was estimated visually, with 500 millilitres considered normal for vaginal delivery. The new WHO guidelines lower the threshold for diagnosing postpartum haemorrhage to 300 millilitres, allowing emergency care to begin much earlier,” Prof Obimbo said.
He noted that weak health systems, particularly in rural and underserved areas, continue to undermine effective management of maternal complications, despite Kenya training significant numbers of health professionals annually.
According to Prof Obimbo, full adoption of the new WHO guidelines and proper implementation of existing interventions could significantly reduce Kenya’s estimated 3,000 annual deaths caused by excessive bleeding and potentially save up to 56,000 lives across Africa each year.
Government Cracks Down on Negligence
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a stern warning to healthcare providers, announcing that licences for hospitals and medical practitioners linked to high maternal mortality will not be renewed.
Speaking during the launch of the Kenya Quality of Care Health Facility Assessment Reports and the RMNCAH+N Investment Case, Duale revealed that only four in ten health facilities are adequately equipped to manage safe deliveries.
“When expectant mothers are dying on your watch, your medical licences mean nothing to us,” Duale said, adding that negligence and malpractice in both public and private facilities will no longer be tolerated.
The CS also criticised the growing reliance on phone consultations, saying some practitioners are attending to patients remotely instead of being physically present.
He announced a nationwide audit of health facilities to identify cases of negligence and malpractice.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga echoed the warning, stating that facility licences will only be renewed for hospitals with competent staff and low mortality rates.
“Competency and performance must go hand in hand. We have seen even senior doctors failing to follow clinical guidelines,” Oluga said.
Targets Still Out of Reach
The Ministry of Health is rolling out the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative to improve outcomes, targeting increased antenatal attendance, skilled birth assistance, early postnatal care and faster access to emergency obstetric services.
However, challenges remain. Kenya’s neonatal mortality rate stands at 21 per 1,000 live births nationally, with a facility-based rate of 36.3 — both above national targets.
While skilled birth attendance is high at 89 per cent and postnatal care coverage stands at 72 per cent, perinatal mortality remains elevated at 13.2 per cent, well above the 7.8 per cent target.
Health experts warn that without urgent investments in facility readiness, accountability and emergency care, preventable maternal and newborn deaths will continue to claim lives daily.