KEWOPA Pushes for Stronger Laws to Protect Mothers and Newborns in Kenya

The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has renewed calls for stronger legal protections to safeguard the health and rights of mothers, newborns, and children, following a high-level Parliamentary Policy Dialogue held this week in Nairobi.

Bringing together legislators, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and health experts, the forum focused on three key pieces of legislation currently under review: the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Bill, the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill, and the Assisted Reproductive Technologies Bill. The proposed laws seek to improve coordination, financing, accountability, and service delivery across Kenya’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health sector.

Women lawmakers at the dialogue emphasized that Kenya’s persistently high maternal and newborn mortality rates point to gaps that can only be addressed through robust legislation and stronger oversight. They called for clearer commitments within the bills, enhanced monitoring mechanisms, and a unified national approach to health rights.

“Every woman and child deserves equitable access to quality care. These bills give us the opportunity to strengthen health systems, protect families, and ensure dignity for all,” KEWOPA representatives said, reaffirming the association’s leadership in advancing rights-based health laws.

Key partners—including the State Department for Gender, HENNET, Amref Health Africa, Jhpiego, UNFPA Kenya, and UN Women—echoed the urgency of accelerating legislative reforms. They noted that cross-party collaboration remains essential to closing gaps that continue to endanger mothers and newborns, particularly in underserved communities.

The dialogue concluded with a pledge from KEWOPA to champion the passage and full implementation of progressive health legislation. “Our commitment remains firm,” the association affirmed. “We will not relent until every mother receives quality care, every newborn survives, and every child thrives.”

The bills are expected to undergo further consultation before being tabled in Parliament later this year.