Ruto Turns Spotlight on Uhuru’s Legacy with Linda Mama Defence
President William Ruto has come to the defence of his predecessor, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, over criticism surrounding the Linda Mama programme, describing it as a solid foundation for Kenya’s maternal health reforms.
Speaking during a visit to Umma University in Kajiado on September 30, 2025, Ruto urged Kenyans to acknowledge Uhuru’s role in establishing Linda Mama, a programme he said laid the groundwork for broader reforms under the current administration.
“Let me come to the defence of my former boss, the former president Uhuru, to defend him that we should be magnanimous to him. He, at times, led our country, and the Linda Mama programme was a great programme. We developed it under the Jubilee administration, under the leadership of President Uhuru,” Ruto said.
From Linda Mama to Linda Jamii
The Head of State explained that lessons from Linda Mama informed the design of Linda Jamii, which he described as a “significant improvement.”
While Linda Mama mainly focused on delivery services, Linda Jamii expands coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. It targets not only mothers, but also children and entire households.
“It (Linda Jamii) is an improvement of the Linda Mama programme. So, Linda Mama was good, Linda Jamii is obviously better,” Ruto noted.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Linda Mama | Linda Jamii |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Focused mainly on maternity and delivery services | Covers prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care |
| Beneficiaries | Pregnant mothers | Mothers, children, and entire households |
| Benefits per Enrollee | Sh2,000 – Sh2,500 | Sh10,000 – Sh30,000 |
| Administration | NHIF (defunct) | Integrated under Social Health Authority (SHA) |
| Policy Goal | Reduce maternal mortality | Drive universal health coverage (UHC) |
| Coverage Gaps | Limited to maternal services | Expanded to family and household health |
Duale Takes Aim at Kenyatta’s Legacy
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale struck a sharper tone, accusing Kenyatta’s administration of leaving behind “fictitious debts” under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which had overseen Linda Mama.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration has not scrapped the Linda Mama programme but enhanced it. Our former boss (Uhuru Kenyatta) should be grateful. He left us with Sh30 billion fictitious debts trickling down to Sh5.6 billion under the Linda Mama programme,” Duale said.
The CS also questioned Kenyatta’s record on maternal care, pointing out that maternal mortality remained high in several counties despite the existence of Linda Mama.
“The retired President Uhuru should tell us why the maternal mortality was high during his administration if the Linda Mama was as good as he purports. We still have 20 counties where maternal mortality is high,” he added.
Bigger Picture: Universal Health Coverage
Ruto emphasized that Linda Jamii is a cornerstone of his administration’s drive toward universal health coverage, signaling a policy shift from piecemeal maternal health interventions to more comprehensive household healthcare.
The contrasting remarks between Ruto and Duale highlight the balancing act within the government—acknowledging past gains while justifying new reforms.