9 in 10 mothers deliver in hospitals, so why are lives still being lost?
By Sharon Atieno, June 2, 2026Kenya has made progress in getting more mothers to deliver in health facilities, but major gaps remain in emergency care, staffing and the quality of maternal services.
According to health reports and studies, the number of women giving birth in health facilities has steadily increased over the years, reflecting improved access and growing confidence in skilled healthcare services. Health experts now estimate that nearly nine out of ten mothers deliver in hospitals and health centres.
On paper, that sounds like a success story.
Health officials have repeatedly pointed to increased hospital deliveries as evidence that the country is moving in the right direction. Recently, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said Kenya was closer to reducing maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, insisting that the target is achievable if quality care reaches every facility across the country.
But beyond the numbers lies a difficult question: if more mothers are reaching hospitals, why are preventable deaths still happening?
Hospital delivery alone is not enough
The challenge appears not to be simply getting mothers through hospital gates. Patrick Amoth himself admitted that Kenya still faces major weaknesses in handling emergencies in obstetric and newborn care.
That concern also appears to have informed the government’s latest intervention.
In a statement shared on his X account on Sunday, May 31, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the rollout of the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026–2028 aimed at reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
“The Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere Acceleration Plan gives a roadmap to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” Duale stated.
The government says it will inject Ksh13.1 billion into primary healthcare services, provide an additional Ksh4 billion for pregnant mothers under SHA, procure life-saving commodities and recruit 5,000 nurses and midwives nationwide.
Mothers want quality, not just access
These investments are important because healthcare should not only be measured by the number of mothers who enter hospitals.
Many families continue to raise concerns about the quality of care they receive. Some question delays in emergency response, staff shortages and communication during childbirth.
There is also increasing public discussion around rising Caesarean section procedures, with some mothers feeling they are not always fully involved in decisions regarding their care. While C-sections remain essential and life-saving when medically necessary, trust and communication matter just as much as medical intervention.
Kenya may indeed be making progress.
But the real measure of success is not whether nine out of ten mothers arrive at hospitals.
It is whether mothers leave those hospitals alive, safe and carrying healthy babies in their arms.