Duale Says Govt Expanded Linda Mama Program Under SHA

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that the government has expanded the Linda Mama program under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to offer more benefits for mothers, newborns, and families across the country.

Speaking on Monday during the commissioning of the Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Complex and the groundbreaking of the School of Engineering Phase III at Umma University in Kajiado County, CS Duale said the program now covers antenatal care, postnatal care, delivery services—including normal births and Caesarean Sections—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,” said Duale.

In Kajiado County alone, more than 470,000 residents are enrolled under SHA, part of the 26.5 million Kenyans registered nationwide. The Health CS said these reforms are aimed at ensuring equitable healthcare access, especially at the grassroots, so that “no family is left behind.”

During his tour of the university’s new facilities, Duale highlighted the nursing skills laboratory, which will provide hands-on training for students and improve patient care. He added that this directly supports Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan.

The CS also stressed the government’s commitment to empowering women, noting their central role in society and reaffirming the push for equal opportunities.