Piece by: MARY NG'AN'G'A

26 October 2022

• Kang'ata noted the stipends were to regulate maternal and infant mortality rates.

• The media portrayed it as a means to boost the population in Murang'a.

Explaining in yet another published article, he said,

"The intention of this program is not to boost the population. Factors that cause the fertility rate fall are complex. Can't be solved by such. Not sure if it's wise to reverse the trend. The goal is to incentivize hospital deliveries and address maternal and infant mortality rates."

He said the program will be piloted in the health sector strategic plan covering the period up to 2027.

Adding that the stipends would be paid to mothers who came to maternity wards at public hospitals. He finished by saying;

"The lives of women and those of infants are too important for one to joke around with a view of sensationalism. No one can boost the population by way of tokenism."

The whole debate blew up after Kang'ata was recorded saying;

“We will be supporting pregnant mothers with a stipend of Sh2,000 for the last two months of the pregnancy and the same amount after delivery, to [total] Sh6,000 per pregnancy.“

Kang’ata stated that the aim of the program was, “Taking good care of our women and encouraging them that their county government thinks well of them.”