Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has claimed the current regime is dealing with a Ksh5.6 billion Linda Mama debt left behind by the former government, further arguing the programme has been enhanced to safeguard the health of mothers and children under the Linda Jamii initiative.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Complex and groundbreaking of the School of Engineering Phase III at Umma University in Kajiado County on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Duale noted that the current administration has put in place reforms in the health sector to improve healthcare for all under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

”When we came into office, we were confronted with a fictitious NHIF debt amounting to Ksh30 billion. Shockingly, Ksh5.6 billion of this was linked to the Linda Mama programme. 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,” Duale argued.

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Duale’s remarks come days after retired President Uhuru Kenyatta said the purpose of the Linda Mama programme, launched to improve maternal health under his administration, has been eroded by the Linda Jamii initiative championed by the present government led by President William Ruto.

The Health CS added that his ministry is putting up measures to promote accountability amid the SHA fraud that has rocked the country’s healthcare department.

”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,” Duale added.

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Aden Duale further said that under SHA, the Linda Mama package provides comprehensive coverage for antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), and delivery services, including both normal births and Caesarean sections (C-sections), as well as newborn care and essential treatments such as anti-D serum.

“The benefits have not been scrapped; instead, they’ve been expanded to support mothers and families before, during, and after childbirth. To date, 627,155 mothers, including over 41,000 teenage mothers, have benefited from integrated maternal and newborn healthcare with financial protection,” he said.

The Ministry of Health has also confirmed that in Kajiado County, more than 470,000 residents are already enrolled under SHA, part of the 26.5 million Kenyans registered nationwide. The reforms are designed to guarantee equitable access to healthcare, particularly at the grassroots level.