President William Ruto has emotionally revealed that he and First Lady Rachel Ruto lost their firstborn son, as he addressed Kenya’s maternal and newborn mortality crisis during the launch of the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) campaign at State House, Nairobi.
The Head of State made the deeply personal disclosure while calling for urgent reforms in the country’s healthcare system, particularly in maternal and child health services.
Speaking before health officials, development partners, and government leaders, Ruto said the issue of maternal and newborn deaths was not just a policy discussion for his family, but a painful reality they had personally experienced.
"Mama Rachel here, and I lost our firstborn son. It’s not something that is far-fetched. It’s not something that is a story. It is a reality that we live through every day,” said the President.
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The remarks quickly sparked reactions across social media platforms, with many Kenyans expressing sympathy while others focused on the broader healthcare challenges facing expectant mothers and newborns in the country.
During the speech, Ruto recounted an encounter he had in New York last year with an international health expert who questioned Kenya’s maternal mortality record.
Call for equal healthcare access
During the address, Ruto defended the government’s push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), saying healthcare should not depend on one’s financial status.
The President insisted that every Kenyan deserves access to quality healthcare regardless of employment or income.
“Health cannot be a privilege for those who can afford it, those who have jobs, or those who have money,” he said.
“Health must be a right for every citizen of the Republic of Kenya.”
Ruto added that the government remains committed to strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services through ongoing reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
"Kenya is the league of Afghanistan "
The Head of State also shared a conversation he had with a global health official in New York, who questioned Kenya’s maternal mortality statistics despite the country’s economic progress.
According to Ruto, the official told him that mothers and children were still dying from preventable causes in Kenya at alarming rates.
“She told me Kenya is in the league of Afghanistan,” Ruto recalled.
He said the conversation challenged him to rethink how the country approaches maternal healthcare and the need for urgent intervention.
Government pushes maternal health reforms.
The EWENE acceleration plan launched during the event will run between 2026 and 2028 and focuses on improving emergency maternal care, skilled birth attendance, and newborn services.
The government also announced an additional Sh4 billion allocation through the Social Health Authority to support maternal healthcare programmes.
According to health sector reports, Kenya continues to record hundreds of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with many cases linked to delayed treatment, limited medical facilities, and inadequate access to skilled healthcare workers.
Kenyans share views after Ruto’s Revelation
Following the President’s remarks, social media platforms were flooded with reactions from Kenyans, with many describing the revelation as one of Ruto’s most personal speeches since taking office.
Others used the moment to highlight the struggles many families face while seeking affordable maternal healthcare in public hospitals.
“We cannot continue losing precious lives to preventable causes,” Ruto said during the address.
The speech has since renewed national conversations around maternal healthcare, healthcare financing, and the government’s commitment to reducing preventable deaths among mothers and children.
