Kakamega joins partners to develop 2026–2028 EWENE Acceleration plan
The strategy is aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths to below 12 deaths per 1,000 deliveries by the end of 2028.
By Wakhungu Andaje
The County government of Kakamega has collaborated with partners to develop Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) 2026–2028 acceleration plan.
The Department of Health Services county has partnered with the International Center for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Jacaranda Health, and the Johns Hopkins program for international education in gynaecology and obstetrics (JHPIEGO).
County Health Executive Committee CPA Dr. Livingstone Imbayi said the strategy is aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal deaths to below 12 deaths per 1,000 deliveries by the end of 2028.
"The acceleration plan will provide guidelines, procedures, and interventions for healthcare workers to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths across health facilities in the county," Imbayi said.
He said it will also strengthen monitoring, follow-up, and accountability in the implementation of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health interventions.
The CECM notes that the acceleration plan will significantly advance and diversify governor Fernandez Barasa’s healthcare agenda by contributing to the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths across health facilities in Kakamega County.
He further relayed that the county was grateful for the unwavering critical role of development partners in supporting Kakamega to achieve its EWENE targets.
On her part, the Chief Officer Public Health Mrs. Rose Muhanda acknowledged the acceleration plan partnership saying it will facilitate follow-up and enhance public awareness among Kakamega residents on the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) strategies adopted by the county to improve health outcomes.
The International Centerr forReproductive Healthh (ICRH) senior programme officer, Mr. Stephen Yambi quickly reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Kakamega County in achieving its EWENE targets.
Present at the meeting were: Director Medical Services, Dr. Stephen Wandei, the Jacaranda Health team led by Janet Ogoyo, the Jhpiego team led by Ms. Jane Kageha, and representatives from Touch a Life.
Kenya's health cabinet secretary Aden Duale left receiving documents from JHPIEGO President and CEO Dr.Allyson Bear on their partnering to improve Universal health cover
The meeting comes after the last month one where international centre for reproductive health –Kenya (ICRHK) and TouchaLife, a community based organization met Kakamega county officials and other partners including Jhpiego Kenya and Jacaranda health held an accountability meeting that reviewed progress that will unlock systemic bottlenecks hindering both maternal and newborn health.
The meeting resolved to key commitments including the purchasing of 12 ambulances to effect more referral systems, address the workmanship gaps by deploying 121 health workers and recruiting specialists, increasing blood services budget allocation from Ksh.15million to Ksh.45million besides upgrading to become a regional blood transfusion centre.
They also agreed to work closely with KEMSA to strengthen commodity security. The resolutions follows the July meeting with Governor Fernandes Barasa’s administration which highlighted the referral gaps among them inadequate workforce, blood scarcity, and commodity shortages as the nitty gritty barriers hindering better maternal and newborn health services.
During the meeting, ICRHK announced its purpose to continue supporting Kakamega county to develop and implement its EWENE acceleration plan and ensure that it transforms the commitments into measurable improvements for women and newborns.
Nationally Kenya is working around the clock to create partnerships with organizations to accelerate its universal health coverage agenda with maternal and newborn health being prioirity.
To achieve this the meeting between Kenya’s health cabinet secretary Aden Duale, has met (August 21,2026), Jhpiego President and (C.E.O) Dr Allyson and exchanged notes on how best they can expand their collaboration to achieve the every woman every newborn (EWENE) agenda.
Their discussion identified the need for the coordinated approach between the government and development partner where one plan, one budget, and one accountability principle system was agreed upon with partner resources being channeled to grave and gray areas of need with 18 counties being identified by the government of Kenya as priority.
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