Duale vows action to end preventable maternal deaths

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has vowed urgent government action to end preventable maternal deaths in Kenya, declaring that the trend will not be tolerated under his watch.

In a statement on Saturday, September 27, 2025, through his X page, Duale described the high mortality rates in some counties as unacceptable and promised a comprehensive response.

His remarks came after Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah raised concerns about Wajir County, where maternal deaths are almost five times the national average.

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Duale said the government is ready to confront both medical and cultural challenges that fuel the crisis.

“It’s unacceptable that so many women continue to die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth in over 20 counties, mainly in ASAL countries,” he stated.

ASAL counties are Arid and Semi-Arid Lands counties, mostly in Northern and Eastern Kenya.

He added that the ministry will not allow cultural barriers, such as delayed consent for emergency procedures, to continue costing mothers their lives.

Resources and reforms

The CS outlined that the Ministry of Health will mobilise political will, resources, and knowledge to bring the crisis under control.

He said the government was determined to scale up access to emergency maternal health services, strengthen health facilities, and confront harmful cultural beliefs that prevent timely interventions.

“We will deploy political will, the tools, knowledge, and resources to end preventable maternal deaths,” Duale affirmed.

According to Duale, the ministry will also engage with county governments and partners to ensure interventions are implemented swiftly.

He noted that the upcoming strategy will target the hardest-hit regions first, prioritising emergency response systems for mothers in rural and marginalised areas.

According to a 2024 USAID report on Preventing Child and Maternal Deaths, Kenya records 594 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, a figure far above the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, mostly in Northern and Eastern Kenya counties, which carry the heaviest burden.

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