Why Kenyan mothers are still dying despite record hospital deliveries.

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Mothers continue to die despite delivering in hospitals.[Courtesy]

Nearly 90 per cent of Kenyan women now deliver in health facilities, yet hundreds continue to die from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications every year. Experts say the country's maternal health crisis is no longer about access but about the quality of care mothers receive when they arrive.

When Kenya introduced free maternity services more than a decade ago, it marked a turning point in the country's efforts to reduce maternal deaths.

The policy encouraged thousands of women who previously gave birth at home to seek skilled care in hospitals and health centres. Over the years, maternal health campaigns, expanded health infrastructure, and increased awareness further strengthened the shift toward facility-based deliveries.