Ms. Mary Mwiti, EBS

Counties are at the forefront of Health Service delivery. Deliberate investments have been made in strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to skilled birth attendance now at approximately 89 percent Nationally and improving antenatal care coverage, with over 90 percent of women attending at least one antenatal visit. At the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference, I reaffirmed Counties’ commitment to strengthening maternal and newborn health through data-driven action, peer learning and stronger accountability systems. Through joint efforts between governments and partners, we can ensure that no mother or newborn dies from preventable causes. @DrPatrickAmoth

To all our Muslim brothers and sisters, I warmly wish you and your families a blessed Eid al-Fitr. May this beautiful season fill your hearts with peace, joy, renewed hope and countless blessings. #EidMubarak.

Kenya’s Blue Economy strategy: Why Counties must lead the tide the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-b…

From New York City at Commission on the Status of Women, I am encouraged by the strong global consensus that accountable local systems are central to delivering maternal health justice. Our discussions reaffirmed that when Counties invest in primary health care, strengthen accountability, embrace innovation and amplify the voices of women and communities, we create a stronger pathway toward safer motherhood and healthier futures for women and girls. .@KenyaGovernors remains committed to working with partners to ensure devolution continues delivering dignified, quality maternal health services for all. #CSW70

On the sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York #CSW70, the @KenyaGovernors delegation joined a high-level dialogue on Advancing Gender-Responsive Land Governance and Resource Rights. We highlighted the role of County Governments in implementing digital land governance reforms that are improving transparency, reducing disputes and expanding women’s access to land and resource rights. I wish to extend my gratitude to the European Union @EUinKenya and the Food and Agriculture Organization @FAOKenya of the United Nations through the Digital Land Governance Programme for the support in advancing these reforms. #CSW70

Drought is no longer an emergency, It's a structural feature of our climate reality. What remains uncertain is not whether drought will occur, but whether our governance systems are calibrated to respond or better still, mitigate the effects early enough tinyurl.com/Drought-is-not…

H.E. Nathif Jama, Chair of the Council of Governors ASAL & Disaster Risk Management Committee, today appeared before the @Senate_KE National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations Committee to present the Council’s position on County drought preparedness and mitigation measures. The Council highlighted ongoing county interventions including health and nutrition support, climate-smart agriculture initiatives, early warning systems, water supply interventions, livestock protection measures, and social protection programmes to support vulnerable households. The Governor further urged the @KeTreasury to expedite the disbursement of the equitable share and conditional grants to enable Counties to effectively respond to the ongoing drought situation, and called on Parliament to fast-track the National Disaster Risk Management Bill and the establishment of a Disaster Risk Management Fund to strengthen preparedness and response.

Happy International Women's Day

We have concluded a two-day consultative forum that brought together County Secretaries the 47 Counties, convened by @KenyaGovernors with support from GIZ. The engagement strengthened their understanding of Devolution, County Cabinet processes, service delivery frameworks and their role as heads of County public service. County Secretaries remain critical thought leaders in county administrations, and strengthening their capacity helps build institutions that deliver for citizens. 🇰🇪 We also benefited from insights by my good friend, @WanjauMercy, Secretary to the Cabinet, who emphasized the need for a responsive and results-driven public service: “We are One Government. The National Government is an aggregate of the 47 County Governments and citizens expect quality service delivery from all of us.”

Today, I joined H.E. Governors as they signed the Intergovernmental Participatory Agreements (IPAs) for the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) Project, in a ceremony presided over by @MOH_Kenya Cabinet Secretary @HonAdenDuale The programme will be implemented across all 47 Counties to strengthen Primary Health Care at Levels 1, 2, and 3, advancing our shared goal of Universal Health Coverage. The Council of Governors Secretariat has played a central role in facilitating this process, supporting Counties to identify gaps, prioritize interventions and coordinate with National government and development partners to co-create the project. We continue to provide technical guidance, strengthen county health systems, and ensure that resources reach communities efficiently and effectively. We are committed to empowering Counties to deliver resilient, responsive and people centered health systems, ensuring that every Kenyan can access quality care close to home.

The Council of Governors, through the Inter-County MPDSR Initiative, today convened the 6th National Webinar on “Frontline Realities: Saving Mothers and Newborns in Kenya’s Hard-to-Reach Counties.” County health leaders, frontline workers, policymakers and partners shared practical lessons from service delivery in marginalized areas, reaffirming a collective commitment to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. “We must invest in health especially public health education at the local level and jointly advocate for a united front towards addressing maternal and newborn deaths,” — H.E. @BenjaminCCheboi . “Strenthening primary health care is a key priority to County Governments. In partnership with the National Government, we should allow maternal health services to be offered at our primary health facilities,” — H.E. @MohamedAKhalif .

We are live. Join Now: shorturl.at/fAugC

Insightful discussions with the PS State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage @UmmiMBashir and @Devolution_KE PS Michael Lenasalon on the coordinated national framework for implementation of cultural festivals by County Governments. The meeting underscored the need for synergy between National and County Governments to ensure cultural festivals are not just ceremonial one-off activities, but structured economic drivers. Key outcomes from the discussions: ✅ Establishment of an intergovernmental sector coordination forum for culture & heritage. ✅ Development of a predictable, harmonized calendar for county cultural festivals. ✅ Need to leverage on data to showcase the socio-economic impact of these festivals. This is a major step toward making culture a critical pillar of local economies and promoting seamless collaboration amongst stakeholders.

Earlier today, I hosted the new Country Representative of @FAOKenya for an introductory engagement aimed at deepening collaboration between FAO and Kenya’s 47 County Governments. We discussed the need for sustained technical assistance, institutional capacity building and policy harmonization to support effective implementation of devolved mandates. Opportunities around digital land governance, sustainable land use, digitization of agriculture, GIS expansion, and stronger urban–rural linkages also featured prominently. We look forward to a results-driven partnership that reinforces Devolution and delivers tangible impact for our farmers and communities.

The Council of Governors led by the Health Committee Chair H.E @A_S_Nassir and the Minsitry of Health led by CS @HonAdenDuale today signed IPAs and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that will see Regional Cancer centres established in Garissa, Mombasa and Nakuru Counties. Cancer remains a major public health concern, with an estimated 27,000 patients in need of radiotherapy services. The partnership reinforces cancer care as a shared national and county function, requiring joint financing, staffing and supply of essential consumables. The SLAs establish a tripartite collaboration between the Ministry of Health, County Governments and VMS Kenya to ensure sustainable maintenance of linear accelerators and related equipment, improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes. With Nakuru currently serving 15 counties and up to 70 patients daily against a demand of 150, the urgency to expand geographic access is clear. Additional centres are planned in Kakamega, Kisii, Meru and Kisumu to reduce congestion and bring oncology services closer to communities. Next steps include operationalizing the SLAs, deploying oncology equipment under the NESP Project Fee for Service model and strengthening county investment in human resources, consumables, screening and referral systems in line with Universal Health Coverage.

No woman and no newborn should die from preventable causes. Today, at the inaugural meeting of the National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Committee convened by the Ministry of Health under Cabinet Secretary @HonAdenDuale, county governments reaffirmed their constitutional mandate to safeguard the right to life and health for mothers and newborns across all 47 counties. Through the Inter-County MPDSR Initiative anchored at the Council of Governors, counties are jointly reviewing deaths across referral pathways, institutionalizing accountability mechanisms, and operationalizing the Maternal–Newborn Health Dashboard to elevate data to executive leadership and drive timely action. County governments have already institutionalized MPDSR committees, improved timeliness of reporting, expanded review activities and demonstrated strong political goodwill in prioritizing maternal and newborn health. Now, the focus shifts to strengthening the response component, ensuring every reviewed case results in corrective measures at facility and system level. Following the recent policy direction authorizing Level 2 and select Level 3 facilities to provide maternity services with reimbursement provisions, Counties will expand access to skilled birth attendance while strengthening supervision and quality assurance. Through strengthened intergovernmental coordination, financing alignment and shared accountability, Counties remain committed to translating MPDSR findings into measurable improvements in service delivery and to making preventable maternal and newborn deaths unacceptable in Kenya’s health system.

Today’s conversation at the @KenyaGovernors side event during #KOGSAT50 was rich, candid and deeply fulfilling. I was honoured to share the panel with policymakers and experts whose insights continue to shape both the present and future of #MaternalHealth. The commitment in the room was clear: leadership and governance must drive the end of preventable maternal and perinatal deaths.

Our Commitment as @KenyaGovernors remains: Prioritise maternal and newborn health, improve HRH, ensure available Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) and strengthen community initiatives. Every review MUST lead to action. @MOH_Kenya #MaternalHealth #AdvancingReproductiveHealth #KOGSAT50

Governors remain committed to accountability and the prudent use of public resources. Oversight, however, must be exercised lawfully, ethically and without extortion, political witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and humiliation. Following deliberations at the Governors’ Retreat, @KenyaGovernors has resolved to pursue structured engagement with @Senate_KE leadership to address concerns around committee appearances and streamline oversight processes.

Social inclusion is not the preserve of a few, it is a fundamental right guaranteed to all Kenyans, including persons with disabilities. Earlier today, l held engagements with Hope Mobility Kenya to explore collaborative pathways to ensure persons with disabilities can equitably access opportunities, essential services and mobility support to fully participate in development. Inclusive devolution demands deliberate and sustained government action. As County Governments, we look forward to working together in this noble cause to empower persons with disabilities & their communities to live productive, independent and dignified lives.