The Ministry of Health has proposed punitive measures against health officers who fail to report cases of newborn and maternal deaths, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability within the country’s health system.
Appearing before the National Assembly to respond to questions from Members of Parliament, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed alarming statistics from Kiambu County, where 164 newborn deaths and 14 maternal deaths were recorded over a five-month period when county health workers were on strike.
Duale described the figures as an “understatement”, suggesting that the actual toll could be higher due to underreporting.
He further noted that hospitals in the county experienced a sharp decline in patient attendance during the strike period, highlighting the severe impact of industrial action on healthcare service delivery.
The Cabinet Secretary said the proposed penalties are part of broader reforms to improve data accuracy, ensure timely reporting, and enhance maternal and child health outcomes across the country.
Duale emphasised that failure to report such cases undermines national efforts to curb preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, which remain a major public health challenge in Kenya.
