Kenya is failing to meet its breastfeeding targets, putting the lives of half a million babies at risk annually contributing to the country’s high child mortality rates.
Despite its life-saving benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates have stagnated over the past years in Kenya a trend experts say is undermining public health and economic development.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, only 61 percent of newborns are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, falling short of the national target of 70 percent by 2030. Even more concerning, exclusive breastfeeding has dropped from 62 to 60 percent , while bottle feeding has risen sharply from 22 percent to 34 percent.
“We have stagnated in exclusive breastfeeding. This means we need to do something,” said Dr. Sultani Matendechero, Deputy Director General of Health at the Ministry of Health. “It is worrying that only 61 percent of infants are exclusively breastfed, with 60 percent of newborns breastfed within first hour birth.”
The low uptake is largely attributed to the aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes, which Matendechero says “continue to undermine breastfeeding practices.” While he clarified that “there is no problem with substitute, but the problem is we are starting to overuse them,” he condemned the “aggressive marketing attracting mothers that affect breastfeeding.”
Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding are multifaceted, including stigma, a lack of adequate workplace breastfeeding spaces, and persistent myths.
Dr. Matendechero emphasized that these barriers cannot be addressed by the Ministry of Health alone, but require collaboration efforts with respective agencies and Media.
Counties like Kilifi, where 9 out of 10 babies are breastfed, along with Nyeri, Kiambu, and Taita, are leading the way. However, counties like Nakuru, Kisii, and Baringo are dragging in their breastfeeding rates.
Similarly, there are significant regional disparities in the early initiation of breastfeeding. Vihiga County leads in initiating breastfeeding within an hour of delivery, followed by Elgeyo Market, Kisii, Busia, and Tana River. In contrast, counties like Kisumu, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nandi, Nyeri, Nairobi, and Mombasa are lagging.
Brenda Ahoya, a nutritionist, noted that women in urban areas are initiating breastfeeding later than their rural counterparts, a trend she attributed to the prevalence of breast-milk substitutes. “Aggressive marketing of substitutes work on exploiting emotions, and affects breastfeeding by mothers,” she said.
Breastfeeding is not just a natural act; it is a critical public health intervention that must be actively supported. Prof. Grace Irimu, a paediatrician and professor of health systems, highlighted that breastfeeding is a “taught and thoughtful procedure.”
She called for breastfeeding education to be integrated into antenatal care (ANC) visits to empower mothers before delivery. She also stressed the need to equip mothers with knowledge and demystify common myths.
For example, in rural areas, Prof. Irimu noted that many women are “forced to give babies meals like porridge and ugali, as it is believed breast-milk is not adequate.” She warned against this practice, stating, “Mothers listen to stories from their peers and at four months, they introduce foods.”
Early initiation of breastfeeding, within the first hour of birth, is a critical yet underutilized strategy in saving newborn lives. “Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour can save up to 33 percent of newborns,” Prof. Irimu stated. She added that if a baby does not require resuscitation, “mothers should breastfeed on the delivery bed within five minutes.”
She explains that in Kenya, with a neonatal death rate of 22 per 1,000 live births, the impact could be profound. Prof. Irimu explained that breastfeeding can reduce hospital admissions by 50 percent, while it can reduce diarrhoea cases—the leading cause of infant deaths—by 75 percent, and pneumonia cases by 50 percent.
Beyond saving lives, the benefits for both mother and child are extensive. For the infant, breastmilk offers protection against infections and increases intelligence by up to 3.5 percent. For the mother, it aids in post-delivery recovery and contributes to long-term health.
To achieve these outcomes, Prof. Irimu called for the elimination of inappropriate practices in healthcare settings, such as the unnecessary use of intravenous fluids and the promotion of substitutes. “Breast-milk substitutes are a shortcut that undermines a natural, life-saving process,” she said.
The Ministry of Health is already taking steps, including developing practical guidelines to support early and continued breastfeeding, and establishing 1,500 baby-friendly community health units.
“Every child has the right to basic nutrition. Let’s commit all sectors and platforms to make the factor a reality, starting with breastfeeding- challenge myths and champion and promote breastfeeding across Kenya,” Dr. Matendechero urged.
