Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said the launch of Taifa Care marks a decisive step in tackling Kenya’s stubbornly high maternal mortality rates, shifting the focus from token reimbursements to full healthcare coverage for mothers.
Speaking through a statement on X, Duale criticised the former NHIF’s Linda Mama programme, saying it left expectant mothers at risk by offering hospitals reimbursements of just KSh 2,500.
He argued that the low rates compromised quality of care at a time when maternal deaths were rising.
“During that period, Kenya witnessed a worrying increase in maternal mortality rates as mothers struggled to access comprehensive services,” Duale said.
Taifa Care, introduced under the wider Universal Health Coverage reforms, is being positioned as the government’s answer to years of underfunded maternal services.
Unlike Linda Mama, the new model will provide full coverage for prenatal, delivery and postnatal care. Duale said the goal is to ensure that no mother is denied treatment because of financial challenges.
The ministry is also working with county health facilities to strengthen service delivery, with the CS stressing that dignity and safety of mothers will be the cornerstone of the new programme.
Kenya continues to rank poorly on maternal health indicators, with World Bank data showing deaths remain higher than global averages.
The government hopes that by replacing the old NHIF model with Taifa Care, mothers will finally access care that meets international standards.
“The focus is now on safeguarding every mother and child,” Duale noted, adding that the reforms are designed to make maternal deaths from preventable causes a thing of the past.
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