Kenya Launches Newborn Investment Case to Accelerate Newborn Health Gains
On 14th November 2025, the Ministry of Health, together with partners and newborn health stakeholders, officially launched the Kenya Investment Case for Small and Sick Newborns, a comprehensive, costed roadmap designed to strengthen the quality of newborn care nationwide.
During its observance of the global World Prematurity Day on November 17, 2025, Kenya marked the day by launching the Kenya Investment Case, a significant milestone in its commitment to improving newborn survival. The commemoration ceremony was hosted by Murang’a County at Murang’a County Referral Hospital under the theme “Give preterm babies a strong start for a brighter future.”
The Murang’a celebration included national and county leaders who unveiled key initiatives to accelerate progress for preterm and vulnerable newborns. These included the launch of the National Every Woman Every Newborn (EWENE) Acceleration Plan alongside enabling tools such as the Kenya Newborn Investment Case, the National Mentorship Package for Newborn Care, and updated national norms and standards for newborn services. Together, these resources aim to equip health workers, standardize quality, and guide county-level implementation.
The day’s events were officiated by Governor Irungu Kang’ata and Dr. Nazila Ganatra, Director of Health Products and Technologies at the Ministry of Health, representing the Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Kenya Newborn Investment Case (2025–2030) – Fact Sheet
The Kenya Newborn Investment Case: ‘Saving lives by scaling up high-quality Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC) to meet our national goals,’ provides a costed, phased roadmap for quality neonatal care, from human resources and data systems to infrastructure and sustainable financing.
The Ministry of Health Kenya and NEST360 have co-developed a national plan for scale up of high-quality Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC), involving every county. Together we costed the ingredients required based on national policies, resulting in an evidence-based investment case which shows impact and potential return of investing in newborn care.
NEST360 Alliance is supporting five African countries to improve quality of neonatal care to enable countries reach SDG 3.2, including developing national investment cases to inform resource mobilization.
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Kenya’s Investment Case to Improve Newborn Survival
The Investment Case, developed by the Ministry of Health in partnership with NEST360 and other collaborators, consolidates the latest evidence on priority interventions and system investments required to ensure that every newborn, especially those born too soon or too small, receives timely, lifesaving care. It outlines strategies to improve facility readiness, expand specialized newborn units, strengthen the health workforce, enhance data use, and ensure sustainable financing for newborn services.
Analysis shows that if counties equip sub-county hospitals to provide essential newborn care (including basic breathing support and Kangaroo Mother Care) and strengthen county referral-level newborn units, Kenya could save approximately 47,000 newborn lives by 2030, reducing the current mortality from 21 per 1000 births to 12 per 1000 births, attaining the SDG target. This goal is attainable with adequate staffing, service availability, and effective use of data to drive quality improvement.
The Investment Case prioritizes functional sub-county newborn units in every county, supported by strong referral units, to bring lifesaving care closer to families and reduce delays. Upgrading a county referral facility to national standards, including the construction of a new newborn unit, is estimated to cost Kes 100 million (approximately US$770,000). In comparison, upgrades to sub-county hospitals require approximately Kes 44 million (approximately US$345,000). For counties with constrained resources, a moderate scenario combining 50% new construction with 50% renovation offers a feasible pathway: Kes 59 million (US$447,000) for county referral facilities and Kes 24 million (US$187,000) for sub-county facilities. These investments are within reach for most counties.
Crucially, the returns are substantial. The analysis estimates a return of US$8 to 13 for every US$1 invested, through lives saved and long-term economic benefits. National scale-up would require an increase of roughly 2.8% of current health spending, a realistic investment considering the significant gains in survival and reductions in long-term disability.
The Kenya Newborn Investment Case presents a roadmap for action, a commitment to equity, and a reminder that every shilling invested in newborn health yields measurable returns for families, communities, and the nation’s future. With aligned evidence, resources, and political will, Kenya is now positioned to accelerate high-impact interventions that can substantially reduce preventable newborn deaths. The path forward requires sustained investment, coordinated implementation, and robust partnerships. If Kenya maintains this momentum, the country will not only save more newborn lives but also unlock the full potential of a healthier, more resilient generation.
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In brief
The Ministry of Health Kenya and NEST360 launched the Kenya Newborn Investment Case (2025–2030), a national plan to scale up high-quality Small & Sick Newborn Care (SSNC) across every county.
The investment case is an evidence-based roadmap outlining what it will take to ensure every newborn survives and thrives, and the value of investing in their care. The case for improving newborn care is based on data, including:
- 33,600 newborns die annually (NMR: 21/1,000), far from the SDG 3.2 target of 12/1,000 by 2030.
- Scaling up SSNC could save up to 47,000 newborn lives by 2030.
- Every USD 1 invested in newborn care can yield up to USD 13 in return.
The Kenya Newborn Investment Case provides a costed, phased roadmap for quality neonatal care, from human resources and data systems to infrastructure and sustainable financing.
Read more in The Standard, which covered the Kenya Investment Case launch in this article: How neonatal care investment can transform outcomes.
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