Speaking on Saturday, September 27, 2025, during the Economic Empowerment Engagement in Wajir, Kindiki accused some leaders of twisting the changes in the health sector for political mileage.

“Na mimi nataka niungane na viongozi ambao wameongea hapa. Kwa sababu kuna watu wengi wanaleta mzaha kwa hii maneno ya afya ya umma. Na wanaongea kiholela. Na hawataki kusema ya kwamba hapo mbeleni hatujakuwa na msingi dhabiti wa afya,” he said.

Kindiki acknowledged that previous governments laid the foundation for maternal health programmes. He credited former President Uhuru Kenyatta and then Deputy President William Ruto for launching Linda Mama, which provided free maternity care to expectant mothers across the country.

Kindiki clarified that the new programme does not abolish Linda Mama but builds upon it. He said the government had broadened the scheme to cover more groups in society beyond pregnant women.

“Sasa hii programme mpya, haimaanishi ya kwamba hatuko kwa ile programme ya kusaidia akina mama wajawazito kupitia Linda Mama. Tumeboresha hiyo Linda Mama imekuwa ata kubwa zaidi. Sio mama pekee tunalinda. Hapo nyuma kwa serikali ambayo imepita, tulikuwa tunalinda mama pekee. Sasa hivi tunalinda mama, tunalinda mzee, kijana, mtoto, tunalinda jamii,” Kindiki explained.

His remarks came a day after former President Uhuru Kenyatta accused President William Ruto’s administration of eroding key health gains achieved under his government.

Speaking at the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference, Uhuru criticised the scrapping of Linda Mama, saying the government had replaced it with “untested schemes.”

“Many of the gains we had have been eroded. Linda Mama and others have been replaced with new, untried schemes. As Kenyans wait for these experiments to work, they suffer,” Uhuru said.

He cautioned that abandoning proven programmes in favour of what he described as experiments could set the country back.