President William Ruto has raised concern over Kenya’s continued maternal deaths, saying about 16 women still die every day from pregnancy-related causes despite progress in the health sector.
Speaking on Saturday, September 12, 2026, during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Chebunyo Amsons Mother and Baby Hospital in Bomet, Ruto said the new facility would help bring specialised maternal and newborn care closer to residents.
“No woman should lose her life while giving life,” Ruto said, stressing the need for timely access to skilled personnel, equipment, medicines and specialised services.
The President said the country’s health challenge was not only a shortage of hospitals but also gaps in the availability of essential services where they are most needed.
He said fewer than half of health facilities in Kenya provide maternal services, while only about one-third offer emergency obstetric care. Kenya has about 12 hospital beds per 10,000 people, compared with the World Health Organization recommendation of 25 beds per 10,000.
Ruto said Level Four hospitals have 6,231 beds against an estimated requirement of 18,900, while 26 counties account for about 60 percent of maternal and neonatal deaths.
He said the figures show that a mother’s location can still determine whether she safely delivers and whether her child survives the first month.
Bomet, however, has recorded better outcomes than the national average, with neonatal mortality at 17 deaths per 1,000 live births compared with 21 nationally. Infant mortality stands at 26 per 1,000, against 32 nationally, while under-five mortality is 28 compared with 41 nationally.
The county has also recorded skilled birth attendance of more than 75 percent, above the national average of 69 percent, while more than 79 percent of children are fully immunised.
Ruto said his administration now receives daily data on births and deaths, allowing the government to identify areas requiring urgent intervention.
“Numbers help us to know where we are and what needs to be done,” he said.
The Chebunyo hospital will be a modern Level Four facility with between 200 and 250 beds. It will offer antenatal care, labour and delivery services, maternity and obstetric intensive care, postnatal care, newborn services and neonatal intensive care.
The facility will also have maternity and neonatal theatres, an isolation unit, a mothers’ hostel, pharmacy and health information services.
Ruto said the project is part of an initiative through which Amsons Group is providing a $35 million grant to establish 10 mother-and-baby hospitals in Kenya.
“This facility is a grant from Amsons. It is not a loan,” he said.
The President said the investment reflected growing private-sector confidence in Kenya and would complement government efforts to strengthen healthcare, particularly in counties facing high maternal and neonatal mortality.