Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed that the Linda Mama program inherited from the previous administration left behind a staggering Ksh 5.6 billion debt.
Speaking in Kajiado County on Tuesday, September 30, CS Duale described the financial and operational challenges that confronted the Kenya Kwanza administration upon taking office.
"When we came into office, we were confronted with a fictitious NHIF debt amounting to Ksh 30 billion. Shockingly, Ksh 5.6 billion of this was linked to the Linda Mama programme," Duale disclosed.
The Cabinet Secretary described the debt as more than just a financial burden, characterizing it as evidence of systemic failures in the previous healthcare management system.
"This was not just a matter of numbers. It reflected years of weak oversight, inefficiency, and mismanagement that compromised the quality of care delivered to mothers and their children," he stated.
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CS Duale outlined the reforms implemented under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to address the deficiencies identified in the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) system.
"That is why, under the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Government has embarked on far-reaching reforms to rebuild trust and restore integrity in our health sector. We are tightening accountability systems, sealing financial loopholes, and ensuring that every shilling invested in health translates into quality care for our people," he explained.
The Health CS also criticized the inadequate reimbursement rates under the previous Linda Mama program, arguing that they compromised the quality of maternal healthcare services.
"Under the defunct NHIF, the Linda Mama programme offered a reimbursement as low as Ksh 2,500, with little regard for the quality of care. During that period, Kenya witnessed a worrying rise in maternal mortality rates as expectant mothers struggled to access comprehensive services," Duale said.
He contrasted this with the new Taifa Care initiative, which he described as prioritizing the dignity and well-being of mothers and children.
"With the introduction of Taifa Care, we have shifted the focus to the dignity and well-being of every mother and child. The programme guarantees quality prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, ensuring that mothers are supported at every stage of their journey," the CS added.
Duale's revelations come amid an ongoing debate about healthcare reforms initiated by the Kenya Kwanza administration, which has drawn criticism from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Earlier on Tuesday, President William Ruto had defended his predecessor while explaining the transition from Linda Mama to the Linda Jamii program. The President called for magnanimity toward the former head of state, acknowledging the foundation laid by the maternal healthcare initiative.
"To defend him, we should be a bit magnanimous to him. He did time, led our country. And the Linda Mama program was great," President Ruto stated.
The President had described Linda Jamii as an evolution built on lessons learned from the previous program, emphasizing its expanded coverage beyond just delivery to include prenatal and postnatal care for entire households.
"We developed it under the Jubilee administration, under the leadership of President Uhuru. We learned a lot from the Linda Mama program," Ruto said.
The revelations also indirectly respond to concerns raised by former President Kenyatta at the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference on Friday, September 26, when he criticized the replacement of established programs.
"Today, many of the gains we had in the past have been eroded; Linda Mama and others have been replaced by new, untried, and untested schemes. And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded," Uhuru had said.
