Migori County’s $110,000 Cash Support Initiative Drastically Reduces Maternal Mortality Rates

Migori County's "Give Directly" initiative provides KSh 110,000 to expectant mothers, leading to a record drop in maternal mortality and a surge in safe births.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 7:32 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

A Financial Lifeline for Expectant Mothers

For decades, Migori County has struggled with high maternal mortality rates, historically estimated at 673 deaths per 100,000 live births. However, a new cash support program is fundamentally altering the healthcare landscape for pregnant women. Launched in November 2025, the "Give Directly" initiative provides a total of KSh 110,000 to expectant mothers in the Nyatike, Suna East, and Awendo sub-counties. This direct financial injection is designed to remove the barriers of poverty and hunger that previously forced women to rely on dangerous home births.

Operational Mechanics and Disbursement

The program, currently in a pilot phase supporting 500 women, utilizes a phased disbursement model. According to Clement Ayungo, Migori’s Director of Public Health, the funds are sent via M-Pesa in two distinct batches:

First Batch: Released at 16 weeks of pregnancy to support antenatal care (ANC) and nutrition.

Second Batch: Released at nine months to cover birth-related expenses and postnatal needs.