Approximately 15 mothers and 92 newborns die each day in Kenya from causes that are mostly preventable. These sobering statistics were highlighted during the International Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Conference (IMNHC 2026), organized by the Ministry of Health, held in Nairobi, March 2026.
A significant number of these deaths is linked to complications arising from malnutrition, particularly in drought-affected and rural communities. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malnutrition contributes to approximately 3% of child mortality globally, underscoring the urgency of integrated, cross-sectoral solutions.
In response, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in partnership with four other universities, is implementing a five-year initiative dubbed Mama Link, led by Dr. Kaibui Mwikamba, Director of Linkages at JKUAT.
The programme brings together multidisciplinary expertise in nutrition led by Dr. Florence Kyallo, animal health, production and processing led by Dr. Mathew Gicheha, and agricultural economics under the guidance of Dr. Kaibui. The team seeks to strengthen community resilience through integrated, nutrition-sensitive interventions.
Through this approach, the initiative aims to empower households in Tharaka Nithi County with sustainable, well-rounded solutions that address the root causes of maternal and newborn mortality at the grassroots level.
Now in its second year, the project has brought on board Community Health Promoters (CHPs), extension officers, as well as nutrition and public health experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, ensuring a coordinated and holistic response.
In addition, JKUAT has integrated selected postgraduate students from disciplines such as Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Animal Health Production and Processing, and Software Engineering, among others.
Addressing the students during a briefing meeting held on Thursday, April 29, 2026, at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (COANRE), Dr. Kaibui noted that this strategy is key in promoting research in maternal and newborn health and contributing to evidence-based, locally grounded solutions.
The students are also set to participate in a virtual symposium scheduled for May 2026, organized by VIVES University of Applied Sciences, an international partner in the Mama Link project, with the VIVES team led by Prof. Tony Claeys.
