Assessing the Efficacy Kenya of Community Health Strategy (KCHS 2020–2025) in Enhancing Women Reproductive Health in Pastoralist Communities

Pastoralist communities in Kenya face persistent reproductive health challenges due to a combination of geographical isolation, socio-cultural norms, and under-resourced healthcare systems. The Kenya Community Health Strategy (KCHS) 2020–2025 aims to improve primary healthcare access, with a specific focus on women of reproductive age (WRAs) in marginalized settings. This study assessed the effectiveness of KCHS strategies in enhancing reproductive health outcomes among WRAs in the pastoralist Kajiado County. A mixed-methods case study was employed, involving quantitative surveys with 272 WRAs and qualitative interviews with 45 community health actors and county-level officials. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and qualitative data were processed using NVivo. Findings show that KCHS has made progress in reducing the burden on health facilities through deployment of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), improving maternal awareness and care-seeking behavior. However, systemic challenges persist, notably in resource allocation, CHV motivation, accessibility, and data utilization. Reproductive health service utilization remains influenced by institutional, socio-economic, and cultural factors. The study concludes that while KCHS 2020–2025 has initiated positive change, a strengthened implementation framework is necessary to realize its full potential in pastoralist settings.