The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) is urging the government to formally integrate Indigenous midwives into Kenya’s health system to enhance maternal and newborn care in underserved areas.

• 88% of births occur in health facilities nationally, but home births remain high in several counties, including Mandera (50%), Tana River (48%), Turkana (47%), Wajir (46%), and Samburu (45%).
• Key organization: National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC).
• The proposal emphasizes that Indigenous midwives should complement, not replace, professional healthcare providers, leveraging their community knowledge and trust to connect women to skilled care and emergency services.