Faith Anene, Kakamega
Kakamega County has launched the construction of a Ksh90 million maternity hospital in Likuyani Sub-County, a major step aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.
The 60-bed facility, expected to be completed by January 2026, will offer modern maternal and newborn care services, including a labour ward, newborn unit, theatre, and kangaroo care room.
The project, under the county’s flagship Tutunze Kakamega initiative, will be constructed at a cost of Ksh 90 million, the largest investment in maternal care infrastructure in the county’s history.
The project is part of the ongoing second phase of the Service Delivery Redesign (SDR) program, following successful pilots in Malava, Butere, Lugari, and Matungu sub-counties.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare.
“Through these strategic interventions, we intend to radically change how health services are delivered. Expectant mothers must access timely, quality care in facilities equipped with competent personnel and the right infrastructure,” said Barasa
The Tutunze Kakamega project is implemented in partnership with Jacaranda Health, ThinkWell, ThinkPlace, Rescue.co, and Harvard University, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It aims to reduce maternal mortality from 316 to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality from 19 to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births over five years.
Jacaranda Health Country Director Dr. Job Makoyo lauded the county’s leadership for pioneering the SDR model.
“Kakamega was bold to be the first government in the world to test this new approach. Thanks to AI-powered platforms like PROMPTS, expectant mothers now receive timely information and referrals, while our mentorship program ensures skilled care during delivery,” said Dr. Makoyo.
Since implementation, the initiative has yielded significant improvements, including a 20% rise in healthcare workers’ knowledge retention and a 5% reduction in complicated referrals to higher-level hospitals.
The Likuyani facility is expected to increase monthly deliveries from 130 to over 300 and boost the hospital’s claims from KSh 1.8 million to KSh 2.5 million per month once operational.
Governor Barasa highlighted additional reforms under the program, such as expanding maternal and newborn units, improving emergency referral systems, enhancing health financing through the county health fund, and increasing staff capacity.
He urged residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) to access affordable care and also promoted the county’s Imarisha Afya ya Mama na Mtoto (Barasacare) program, which supports antenatal and postnatal care. Over 2,600 mothers have registered, with 641 already receiving financial assistance.
