Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr with Safaricom Foundation Chairman Joe Ogutu and a nurse in One of the Baby Wards in the newly constructed Mother and Child Hospital at Sultan Hamud. Photo by Gvrns Press. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
A new milestone in maternal and child healthcare was marked in Sultan Hamud on Friday with the official opening of Makueni County’s second-largest Mother and Child Hospital, a project jointly funded and equipped by the M-PESA Foundation and supported by the Safaricom Foundation.
Joe Ogutu, Chair of the Safaricom Foundation, emphasized the critical role of the new facility in addressing Kenya’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.
“Across the country, we are losing about 350 mothers for every 100,000 live births, far above the global target of 70. This facility, properly equipped and strategically located along the highway, will greatly reduce maternal and child deaths,” Ogutu said.
He highlighted the importance of county government collaboration in sustaining such health projects.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr praised the facility for its expected impact on maternal and neonatal health. “This facility ensures mothers will no longer risk dying during childbirth. It will provide skilled, dignified, and quality health care, restoring confidence and hope to women and their families,” he said.
The Governor noted that the hospital’s services already extend beyond Makueni, serving patients from Kajiado and other neighboring counties.
The project, with a total budget of 78 million shillings—including 60 million from the M-PESA Foundation and an additional 18 million from the County Government for equipment—represents a significant upgrade from previous facilities, where overcrowding and poor infrastructure had been a challenge.
The hospital is equipped with solar energy, batteries, and a generator, ensuring continuous operation even during long power outages.
“This partnership has transformed the experience for mothers and children,” Governor Mutula added. “Hospitals like this will use sustainable solutions to reduce operational costs, allowing more resources to be directed toward medicines, hiring more doctors, and ultimately ensuring that no woman dies giving birth in Kenya.”
The partnership between the M-PESA Foundation, Safaricom Foundation, and Makueni County Government is part of a broader commitment to maternal, newborn, and child health, signaling hope for better healthcare outcomes for thousands of families in Makueni and beyond.
