Kenya: The Government will next year release county-specific indicators on maternal health, Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has said.

In a speech read on her behalf by the ministry's Principal Secretary, Peter Mangiti, Ms Waiguru said the country lacked data on maternal health.

The report, which will be available to the public early next year, will contain data to help national and county governments, and their partners plan for strategic interventions.

Mangiti was speaking at an advocacy meeting for senators and National Assembly members on accelerating attainment of Millennium Development Goal 5 and advancing the Beyond Zero Campaign, spearheaded by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.

The CS said lack of data on maternal health was a major challenge that impacted on the ability to respond appropriately to maternal mortality.

"In order to address the inadequacy of data on maternal health, my ministry, through the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), has this year carried out the Demographic and Health Survey, which will produce county-specific indicators," she said.

The meeting focused on 15 counties that have the highest rate of maternal deaths. These are Mandera, Turkana, Wajir, Nairobi, Migori, Nakuru, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Marsabit, Lamu, Garissa, Taita Taveta and Isiolo.

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said maternal mortality in Kenya remained at an unacceptably high level of 488 deaths per 100,000 live births. The ratio has remained constant since 1990.

He called for increased spending to promote maternal health, saying only about seven per cent of current Government spending went to health and a declining part of that to maternal and child health, and family planning.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said more programmes would be put in place to reduce the high instance of maternal deaths.

UNFPA Representative Siddharth Chatterjee said Kenya's high maternal deaths needed to be reversed urgently, adding Kenya was one of 10 most dangerous countries for women to give birth.

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro said legislative arms of Government would do their best to raise the profile of maternal deaths.