Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, led the national commemoration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 with a visit to the MaMa Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital in Uasin Gishu County, where he reaffirmed the government's commitment to tobacco control and strengthening maternal and child healthcare.
The hospital, launched in June 2024, has quickly become a beacon of hope for thousands in the region. The 70-bed modern facility, operating under the theme “Afya Bora kwa Mama na Mtoto,” offers advanced maternal and neonatal care and facilitates an average of 12 safe deliveries daily.
“The MaMa Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital is a true example of what Universal Health Coverage looks like in action,” CS Duale stated during the visit. “As we mark World No Tobacco Day, it is important to highlight how investments in preventive and primary healthcare are saving lives, especially those of mothers and children.”
World No Tobacco Day 2025 focuses on protecting children and youth from tobacco industry interference. Duale emphasized that tobacco use remains a major public health threat in Kenya, contributing to rising cases of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and respiratory illness.
He underscored the government's multi-sectoral approach to tobacco control, including legislation, education, and cessation programs. “Reducing tobacco use is not only a health priority — it is an economic and developmental imperative,” Duale noted.
The CS hailed the MaMa Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital as a key milestone under Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and an example of the government’s push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He noted that such facilities are pivotal in reducing maternal and infant mortality and bridging inequalities in healthcare access.
Residents and healthcare workers praised the facility’s impact, citing increased access to skilled birth attendants, advanced equipment, and 24-hour care services.
As Kenya continues to battle tobacco-related health challenges, CS Duale called on all stakeholders — including parents, schools, county governments, and community leaders — to protect youth from exposure to harmful substances and support national efforts to create a tobacco-free generation.
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