President William Ruto has come out strongly in defense of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, telling off critics who have downplayed the Linda Mama health programme.
Speaking during a public event in Kajiado on Tuesday, Ruto said the initiative, introduced under the Jubilee administration, was a solid foundation that made today’s expanded Linda Jamii and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) possible.
“Let me defend my former boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta. Linda Mama was a strong foundation. We built Linda Jamii from it, under his leadership, and learned many lessons along the way,” Ruto said.
From Mothers to Households
The Head of State clarified that Linda Jamii was not created to discard Linda Mama but to improve and widen its scope. Unlike Linda Mama, which was mainly tailored for maternal care, Linda Jamii stretches further — covering prenatal, delivery, and postnatal services while also extending benefits to children and entire households.
“Linda Mama was good, but Linda Jamii is broader. It goes beyond mothers to benefit whole families,” Ruto explained.
Under Linda Mama, beneficiaries received between Sh2,000 and Sh2,500. Linda Jamii, however, has significantly raised that to between Sh10,000 and Sh30,000 per enrollee.
A Bigger Picture: Universal Health Coverage
Ruto noted that the scheme has since been absorbed into the wider UHC framework, now managed by the Social Health Authority (SHA). As a result, coverage has expanded dramatically — from seven million Kenyans under NHIF to 26.5 million under SHA.
“We learned from Linda Mama. That’s why we created a better Linda Jamii, and from there, we moved into universal health coverage that now reaches far more Kenyans,” Ruto said.
Uhuru’s Voice Returns
The remarks came just days after Uhuru resurfaced at the Jubilee NDC, where he raised concerns over the current administration’s direction, calling for a politics of unity and shared vision rather than ethnic divides.
“Even when we were in power, we worked for all communities. That’s how lives are improved — by bringing everyone on board,” Uhuru told delegates.
UDA’s Counterpoint
However, Ruto’s defense comes against the backdrop of sharp criticism of Uhuru by some Kenya Kwanza allies.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar argued that comparisons between the two health programmes fall short, insisting Linda Jamii is “ahead in scope, quality, and inclusivity.”
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