Kenya recorded 583,298 normal deliveries and 326,684 caesarean sections under the free maternity package between October 2024 and December 2025, highlighting the growing demand for maternal health services in public facilities.
The figures, presented during the 29th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, show the scale of support required to sustain safe deliveries across the country.
Health authorities estimate that Sh2,046,130,500 is needed to fund Level Two and Level Three government and faith-based facilities providing the service.
The maternity package forms part of the broader primary healthcare framework aimed at expanding access to essential services. The programme is designed to ensure mothers deliver in health facilities without financial barriers, reducing risks associated with home births and delayed care.
The high number of both normal and surgical deliveries reflects increased uptake of skilled birth attendance.
Officials indicated that continued funding is necessary to maintain steady operations in facilities handling maternal cases. Level Two and Level Three facilities, which serve as the first point of contact for many communities, carry a significant share of deliveries and require consistent reimbursement to remain functional.
Without timely disbursement of funds, facilities may face strain in sustaining supplies, staffing and service readiness.
The maternity package operates within the wider primary healthcare payment structure, where claims submitted by facilities undergo review before settlement. Payments depend on verified claims after deductions for rejected or returned submissions.
Authorities have emphasised the need for accurate documentation and adherence to benefit guidelines to ensure smooth processing and timely reimbursement.
The data also shows that maternity services remain one of the most utilised components of primary healthcare funding. With more than 900,000 births supported within a 15-month period, the financial commitment reflects the central role of maternal health in the country’s universal health coverage plan.
Health officials stress that predictable financing is key to protecting mothers and newborns and sustaining progress made in facility-based deliveries.
As the demand for safe maternity care continues to rise, the allocation of over 2 billion shillings is viewed as essential to keeping government and faith-based facilities equipped to deliver quality services across the country.
