Safaricom Foundation has pumped Sh4 million in a health facility in Mpeketoni, Lamu County in a move that will see thousands of residents get better maternal health services.

The foundation on Monday handed over newly constructed maternity units worth Sh4.15 million at Mpeketoni Sub County Hospital.

This units are expected to reduce congestion at the health facility and take maternal healthcare services closer to the residents of Mpeketoni.

Safaricom Foundation Chairman Joseph Ogutu says such partnership will help Kenya realise Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDG 3) on promoting healthy lifestyles and well-being for everyone.


“With the leadership of the Lamu County Government, we have a successful collaboration in which we have invested more than KES 33 million for maternity care,” said Ogutu.

He added, “We anticipate that these most recent efforts will get us closer to reaching maternal and newborn mortality rates that are almost nil.”

M-Pesa Foundation also closed its Uzazi Salama project in Lamu, which was unveiled in 2021 and saw more than 86,000 women and children benefit from maternal healthcare services.


The foundation’s maternal health initiatives in Lamu seek to tame maternal mortality rates, which stands at 676 deaths per 100,000 births compared to the national rate of 362 deaths per 100,000 live births.

It also seeks to reduce the infant mortality rate in Lamu County, which currently stands at 4.81 deaths per 1,000 live births.