Improving the Survival of Mothers and Newborns in Kenya (2025)

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, delivering both development and humanitarian programmes to support children and their families. We currently have an operational presence in six counties and bring extensive experience in maternal and newborn health (MNH) and nutrition. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), we work to address systemic barriers to MNH by strengthening the capacity of the healthcare workforce, piloting and scaling innovative approaches to strengthen clinical decision making.

This brief highlights Save the Children’s long-standing efforts to improve maternal and newborn health (MNH) in Kenya through evidence-driven, community-centered, and system-strengthening approaches. Despite progress, Kenya continues to face high maternal and neonatal mortality, significant regional disparities, and persistent gaps in quality and continuity of care. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and local stakeholders, Save the Children implements high-impact interventions such as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), Management of At-Risk Infants (MAMI), Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care training, and community health innovations like CHUSLAs. The organisation has played a key role in shaping national policies, scaling proven interventions, and deploying digital tools like THINKMD to enhance clinical decision-making. Through capacity building, localisation, and continuous learning, Save the Children advances sustainable, equitable MNH solutions that strengthen health systems and improve survival outcomes for mothers and newborns across Kenya.