Ruto Issues Stern Warning To Hospitals Over Maternal Deaths Data
President William Ruto has issued a warning to hospitals that fail to report correct maternal and infant mortality rates.
During a news briefing on Wednesday, November 19, the Head of State stated that all hospitals in the country will be compelled to report data on mothers and children who died on their premises to the Digital Health Authority (DHA).
A maternal death occurs when a woman dies while pregnant or within 42 days of the pregnancy’s termination due to any cause connected to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is not the result of an accident or incident.
These deaths are frequently caused by preventable circumstances such as poor-quality care, a shortage of healthcare providers, or a lack of critical medical supplies.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, equivalent to around 6,000 fatalities per year.
On the other side, the survey found that Kenya’s infant mortality rate is 32 deaths per 1000 live births.
We are implementing comprehensive healthcare reforms in partnership with county governments and development partners to advance the universal health coverage programme. Our focus is to ensure that every Kenyan accesses high-quality health services.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 19, 2025
At State House Nairobi,… pic.twitter.com/BIZ7b82cbd
The survey found that various factors, including the mother’s age, birth size, maternal education, place of delivery, birth intervals, and number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, contributed significantly to these deaths.
“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.”
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“We cannot be losing upwards of 300 in 100,000, while the benchmark is 70,” he added.
“Going forward, we have agreed with the DHA that it’s going to provide data and every facility in Kenya, public or provide, must provide data on mothers and children who die in their facilities because I know that there are facilities that continue to hide this data.”
The President has also asked the Ministry of Health to conduct a survey of all counties, which is due to be finished by March 2026, to identify which counties have a high death rate.
The Ministry of Health will use accurate data on maternal mortality to repair the dents in the country’s health system that are causing maternal deaths, which have increased in recent years, according to the President.
Ruto Issues Stern Warning To Hospitals Over Maternal Deaths Data
