Health Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr. Deborah Barasa has pledged to reinstate the Linda Mama program if confirmed by the vetting panel. Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Thursday, Dr. Barasa highlighted her personal connection to the program, which offers 12-month coverage for mothers during maternity, including ante-natal and post-natal clinic visits, deliveries, and care for newborns.
Dr. Barasa emphasized the importance of ensuring a seamless transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which has not specified the future of the Linda Mama program. “I am a beneficiary of Linda Mama, and my daughter is a beneficiary of Linda Mama. I will ensure it is incorporated if SHIF is rolled out,” she stated. She also promised to develop a transition plan to secure funding for the program during the budgeting process.
The nominee voiced her support for establishing a national health service commission, a long-standing demand by health unions. This commission, she explained, would centralize healthcare management and address sector-wide issues more effectively. Dr. Barasa also stressed the need for robust public communication about the SHIF program, noting that only 464,263 Kenyans have registered for SHIF out of a targeted 15 million. “Kenyans have not seen its importance; we need to have robust communication with the community. It is important they own it, and hence the uptake will be great,” she said.
Dr. Barasa addressed concerns about her practicing license with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). Following her nomination by President William Ruto on July 19, it was revealed that her name was not on the KMPDC practitioners list due to non-compliance with Section 14 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act as of May 2019. She clarified that she had not renewed her license after joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, where she served as a policy advisor for 22 countries in East and Southern Africa and supported 47 member states in the Afro region.
Dr. Barasa promptly settled the outstanding Ksh.80,050 with the council, resulting in her reinstatement on the register. “I am a qualified doctor; my registration is A6275. I have been a clinical officer from 2007 to 2020 and compliant with license renewal,” she explained. She added that she renewed her clinical practice license out of respect for her new role and the Kenyan medical environment.
Additionally, Dr. Barasa disclosed her net worth, estimating it at Ksh.455 million, which she described as a combination of her assets and those of her husband.
