The M‑Pesa Foundation inaugurated its Uzazi Salama programme in Kakamega County by breaking ground for a KSh80 million Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Unit at Navakholo Sub‑County Hospital on 29 October 2026.

The facility will contain 83 beds and is projected to be finished within 36 weeks, expanding capacity for mothers, newborns, children and adolescents.

Key components include a neonatal unit, an operating theatre and a kangaroo‑care centre, intended to strengthen the hospital’s ability to treat both mothers and newborns.

The three‑year Uzazi Salama initiative in Kakamega will be delivered in partnership with the county government, Amref Health Africa, health workers and community health promoters to improve service delivery, encourage early care‑seeking and streamline referrals.

M‑Pesa Foundation trustee Patricia Ithau described the project as a milestone built on the belief that every mother and child deserves to live and thrive.

The programme also targets three common delays that hinder timely maternal and newborn care: deciding to seek care, reaching a facility and receiving appropriate treatment once there.

Kakamega joins other counties that have adopted Uzazi Salama, including Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo, Lamu, Kilifi, Narok and Nakuru, with Kitui and Kiambu expected to join soon.