Ambitious Goals to Save Mothers and Children

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health, has unveiled a comprehensive health strategy designed to significantly improve maternal and child survival rates over the next five years. The Kenya Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition Investment Case for 2025–2030 aims to prevent 4,611 maternal deaths, 27,995 child deaths, and 11,071 stillbirths by 2030. This initiative represents a major step towards enhancing national health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage (UHC).

In a joint statement on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, and Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, emphasized that collaborative investment is key. "The successful implementation of this investment case will lead to improved health outcomes for women, newborns, children, and adolescents—ultimately contributing to a healthier, more prosperous Kenya," they stated. The plan allocates over 40% of its annual budget to maternal and newborn health, with other significant portions directed towards immunisation (18%), child health (12%), and family planning (6.7%).

Focus on Family Planning Amidst Persistent Gaps

A central pillar of the new blueprint is the expansion of access to family planning services. Access to safe, voluntary family planning is recognized as a human right crucial for gender equality and women's empowerment. Kenya has made notable progress, with the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) among married women rising from 32% in 2003 to 57% in 2022. The government's goal, in line with its FP2030 commitments, is to increase this rate to 64% by 2030.

Despite these gains, significant challenges persist. The Ministry of Health acknowledges that the unmet need for family planning remains high, affecting 14% of women who wish to delay or prevent pregnancy. This gap is particularly pronounced among populations with lower education and income levels. For instance, 23% of women with no education have an unmet need for family planning, compared to 10% of those with post-secondary education. Regional disparities are also stark, with counties like Marsabit, Tana River, and West Pokot recording the highest unmet needs, while Embu, Nyeri, and Murang'a have the lowest.

Social, cultural, and religious barriers continue to prevent many women from accessing these essential services. To address this, the strategy includes transforming social and gender norms to improve male engagement and eliminate cultural obstacles.

Integrating Gender Equality into Health Policy

The new health framework is underpinned by the National Reproductive Health Policy 2022-2032, which commits to providing quality reproductive health services to all persons in Kenya. This policy aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5, which focus on health, well-being, and gender equality. However, achieving true gender equality in health requires more than just policy documents. Research from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) indicates that while progress has been made, health policies often fail to actively address the distinct health realities of different genders.

Advocacy groups like Women in Global Health Kenya have been instrumental in raising awareness among county health leaders about the need to prioritize gender equity as a precondition for achieving UHC. The government has responded with policies like the National Policy on Gender and Development and the draft Health Sector Gender and Equality Policy, which aim for equitable healthcare for all. The new investment case allocates 8% of its funding towards tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a critical component of gender-responsive healthcare.

The Challenge of Domestic Financing

A significant hurdle for the success of this ambitious plan is the reliance on donor funding. As international partners like USAID scale back, the urgency to strengthen domestic financing mechanisms has grown. Health experts have raised concerns that current government allocations are insufficient. For the 2025/26 fiscal year, the budget for reproductive health commodities was Ksh 500 million, far below the estimated Ksh 3 billion required. The National Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan for 2020 estimated a funding gap of KES 2.4 billion.

On October 21, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reaffirmed Kenya's partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to bolster reproductive health commodity security and sustainable financing. "The Government remains committed to ensuring that family planning services are fully funded, accessible, and anchored on a rights-based approach," CS Duale stated, highlighting the role of the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in this effort. Experts maintain that predictable domestic financing and deliberate prioritization within the national budget are critical to safeguarding and building upon Kenya's progress in reproductive health.