The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has called on national and county governments to formally link Indigenous midwives to Kenya's health system as part of efforts to improve maternal and newborn care in underserved communities. “Indigenous midwives are custodians of community knowledge on maternal care, nutrition and medicinal practices, passing this knowledge from one generation to the next alongside language and culture,” NGEC said. NGEC stressed that Indigenous midwives should not replace doctors, nurses or other qualified healthcare professionals. It said language barriers, discrimination and culturally insensitive treatment can discourage some Indigenous women from seeking care at health facilities. The call was made as Kenya marked the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2026, under the theme “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being.”