What to Expect at the Kenya Health Summit 2026

Summit Opens with Maternal Health Focus

The Kenya Health Summit 2026 opened in Nairobi with First Lady Rachel Ruto commending national and county governments for their efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths, saying increased investment, stronger health systems and empowered healthcare workers are beginning to deliver results across the country.

Speaking at the summit, the First Lady said sustained collaboration between the two levels of government was critical to ensuring that every woman and newborn could access quality healthcare regardless of where they lived or their ability to pay. She paid tribute to healthcare workers for their role in improving maternal and newborn survival.

"A policy becomes meaningful when a mother feels safe in a maternity ward. An investment becomes meaningful when a newborn survives. A healthcare worker becomes empowered when they have the tools to save a life," she said.

The First Lady, who also serves as Goodwill Ambassador for Newborn Screening in Kenya, noted that the recently launched Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026-2028 had provided renewed impetus to the country's efforts to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

"We must ask ourselves honestly: how do we turn that promise into a daily reality? The answer is not complicated. It takes leadership, investment, skilled healthcare workers, reliable equipment and referral systems that actually work when a life is on the line. And above all, it takes accountability across all stakeholders in the health sector," she said.

Government Commits Ksh12.2 Billion to Maternal and Newborn Survival

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that the government has committed approximately Ksh12.2 billion towards accelerating maternal and newborn survival. The allocation includes Ksh4 billion for Level 2 and Level 3 health facilities, Ksh1 billion for maternal and newborn commodities, Ksh2.5 billion for family planning services, and Ksh5 billion for human resources for health, which includes the recruitment of 5,000 nurses and midwives over the next six months.

Duale said Kenya became the first country globally to launch the EWENE Acceleration Plan in May. Kenya's EWENE framework estimates maternal mortality at approximately 355 deaths per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality at about 21 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Summit Agenda: Reforms, UHC, and Digital Health

The summit, themed "Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right," is scheduled for August 18-19 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and is presided over by President William Ruto. The Ministry of Health said on Monday that the government will leverage the opportunity to highlight key milestones achieved under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and outline the next phase of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Discussions at the summit will revolve around healthcare financing, primary healthcare, specialised care, availability of medicines and other health products, digital health, the health workforce, and maternal and newborn health.

A key milestone that the government is expected to showcase is Kenya Medical Supplies Authority's fill rate of more than 90 per cent, the expansion of specialised services through the National Equipment Service Programme. It is also expected to update Kenyans on the registration of more than 1 million Kenyans by the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Digital health will be another key area of focus, with discussions expected to examine how technology can elevate transparency, accountability and service delivery across the health system. The ministry will also be expected to highlight the work of Community Health Promoters, who provide preventive and promotive health services at the household level.

County Leaders Report Progress

Governors attending the summit welcomed the growing cooperation between national and county governments in strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare. Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said reforms undertaken through cooperation between the two levels of government were beginning to bear fruit.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said Pumwani Maternity Hospital had undergone significant rehabilitation and reforms, and is now handling between 50 and 80 deliveries daily.

Dr Patrick Amoth said 15,000 mothers had delivered at Pumwani Maternity Hospital without a maternal death, and that Kisii County had gone more than two months without recording a maternal death. He said Kenya has the tools and expertise to make a difference before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals targets.

The summit brought together national and county government leaders, health sector stakeholders and development partners.