The Head of State shared the experience while addressing a national discussion on maternal and newborn healthcare at State House, Nairobi.
In his remarks, Ruto emphasized the urgency of improving maternal health services in Kenya, warning that preventable deaths of mothers and newborns remain a serious national challenge.
He noted that despite progress in expanding access to healthcare, mortality rates in childbirth were still unacceptably high and required immediate, sustained intervention.
The President said Kenya has only a few years left to meet both national and global health targets, insisting that “business as usual” can no longer continue.
He stressed that no woman in the country should lose her life during childbirth, highlighting the need for stronger healthcare systems, better facilities, and improved accountability in medical services.
Ruto also recounted an encounter abroad where he was confronted by concerns over Kenya’s maternal mortality rates.
He said the experience reinforced the urgency of addressing the issue, as it placed the country among those still struggling with preventable maternal and infant deaths.
It was during this reflection that the President revealed his personal loss, stating that he and his wife had gone through the painful experience of losing their firstborn son.
He said the tragedy made the national conversation on maternal health even more personal, as it is a reality he and his family have lived through.
The revelation added an emotional dimension to his call for reforms in the health sector, with Ruto urging stakeholders to prioritize the safety of mothers and newborns.
His remarks were widely interpreted as both a policy appeal and a personal testimony underscoring the human cost behind maternal healthcare failures.
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