The government has announced a significant expansion of the Linda Mama program under the Social Health Authority (SHA), a move aimed at protecting the health of mothers, newborns, and families nationwide. The enhanced package seeks to strengthen access to maternal and child healthcare while advancing the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.
Under the new reforms, the Linda Mama package now covers comprehensive maternal healthcare, including antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), and delivery services—both normal deliveries and Caesarean sections (C-sections). It also includes newborn care and essential treatments such as Anti-D serum, ensuring mothers and babies receive holistic care before, during, and after childbirth.
The expansion emphasizes that no benefits have been removed; instead, the program has been broadened to provide financial protection for families. More than 627,000 mothers across the country, including over 41,000 teenage mothers, have already benefited from integrated maternal and newborn healthcare under this initiative.
Kajiado County alone has enrolled over 470,000 residents under SHA, contributing to the nationwide figure of 26.5 million Kenyans registered. This demonstrates a growing commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access, particularly for communities at the grassroots level where access to quality care has historically been limited.
The program’s reform is not only about healthcare provision but also about empowering women and recognizing their central role in family and community well-being. By removing financial barriers to maternal healthcare, the government is reinforcing its agenda of inclusion and equal opportunities for all.
Alongside the expansion of Linda Mama, new infrastructure to support health and education has been unveiled. Facilities such as a nursing skills laboratory will provide students with practical training to strengthen safe patient care, directly complementing Kenya’s UHC objectives. These efforts underline the government’s determination to merge healthcare reforms with educational growth, creating a strong foundation for sustainable development.
This milestone also highlights the role of international partnerships in advancing national priorities. Collaborations with global partners have contributed to investments in healthcare, education, and community development, aligning with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The expansion of the Linda Mama program represents a transformative step toward safeguarding mothers, protecting children, and ensuring that no family is left behind in the journey toward universal access to quality healthcare.
