Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed that the Linda Mama maternity programme was burdened with a Sh5.6 billion debt when the Kenya Kwanza administration took office.
Speaking during the launch of Umma University in Kajiado County on Tuesday, Duale said the liability was part of a wider Sh30 billion fictitious debt inherited from the now-defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“When we came into office, we were confronted with a fictitious NHIF debt amounting to Sh30 billion. Shockingly, Sh5.6 billion of this was linked to the Linda Mama programme,” Duale said.
The CS described the situation as evidence of years of poor oversight, inefficiency, and systemic rot, warning that such mismanagement had undermined maternal and newborn healthcare.
To restore public trust, Duale noted that the government is implementing reforms through the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), including tighter accountability and sealing of financial loopholes.
Ruto Defends Linda Mama Legacy
Despite Duale’s criticism, President William Ruto struck a more reconciliatory tone at the event. He acknowledged flaws in past administrations but credited former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government for laying a strong foundation through Linda Mama.
Ruto explained that his administration’s Linda Jamii programme, which expands coverage to prenatal, natal, and postnatal care, was largely built on the successes of Linda Mama.
Background of Linda Mama
Introduced in 2016 under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, Linda Mama aimed to eliminate financial barriers to maternity services. The free package covered antenatal visits, hospital delivery (including caesarean), postnatal care, newborn immunisation, emergency referrals, and pregnancy-related complications.
The programme was widely credited with increasing facility-based deliveries and reducing maternal and infant mortality, offering a vital safety net for women in low-income and rural areas.
As Kenya transitions to Linda Jamii, the government faces the dual challenge of safeguarding accountability while expanding access to maternal health services.
