39. A Labor of Love: Delivering Free Maternity Care in Kenya

Explore the transformative journey of Kenya’s free maternity care policy. We trace the policy’s evolution from the historic 2013 presidential directive to the modern Linda Jamii program. Why did hospital deliveries surge by nearly 100% while frontline clinicians and healthcare staff faced near collapse conditions? From delays in  hospital reimbursements to the hard reality of bed-sharing, Lydia Okutoyi and I discuss the implementation gaps behind the well-meaning promise. Our look at maternal health and Universal Health Coverage has lessons for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and the public.

References:

  • Lang’at E, Mwanri L, Temmerman M. Effects of implementing free maternity service policy in Kenya: an interrupted time series analysis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019;19:645. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-4462-x
  • Musee CM, Mweu JM, Okutoyi L. Perceptions of Healthcare Providers on Quality of Services and Their Satisfaction During Implementation of Free Maternity Services Policy in a National Referral Hospital, Kenya. East Afr J Health Sci. 2025;8(2):134-148. doi:10.37284/eajhs.8.2.3306
  • Orangi S, Kairu A, Malla L, et al. Impact of free maternity policies in Kenya: an interrupted time-series analysis. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(6):e003649. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003649
  • Oyugi B, Audi-Poquillon Z, Kendall S, Peckham S. Examining the quality of care across the continuum of maternal care (antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care) under the expanded free maternity policy (Linda Mama Policy) in Kenya: a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2024;14(5):e082011. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082011
  • Oyugi B, Audi-Poquillon Z, Kendall S, Peckham S, Barasa E. Policy formulation and actor roles in the expanded Kenyan free maternity policy (Linda Mama): A policy analysis. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024;4(11):e0002796. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0002796
  • Pyone T, Smith H, van den Broek N. Implementation of the free maternity services policy and its implications for health system governance in Kenya. BMJ Glob Health. 2017;2(4):e000249. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000249
  • Tama E, Molyneux S, Waweru E, et al. Examining the implementation of the free maternity services policy in Kenya: a mixed methods process evaluation. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2018;7(7):603-613. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2017.135

Post new comment