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Octopizzo calls for reinstatement of Linda Mama for maternal care
24th January, 2026 11:45 PM
Kenyan rapper and youth advocate Henry Ohanga, famously known as Octopizzo, has called for the immediate reinstatement of the Linda Mama maternal healthcare programme following a heartbreaking incident aired on a local TV station where a woman reportedly lost her baby after allegedly being denied timely care at a public hospital.
In a statement on his X platform, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Octopizzo expressed deep pain and anger over the ordeal the woman went through, saying no mother should ever be forced to beg for medical help in a public facility meant to protect and care for her.
“I just watched the news about that woman who lost her baby on Citizen. No mother should have to go through that kind of pain, especially while begging for help from a public hospital that’s supposed to care for her,” he stated.
“The thought of her suffering alone like that is heartbreaking. It makes you feel helpless and angry at the same time.”
The artist, who has consistently used his platform to advocate for social justice and the rights of vulnerable communities, questioned how expectant mothers can be left exposed at their most fragile moments due to gaps in healthcare financing and service delivery.
“It makes you feel helpless and angry at the same time. Can someone please bring Linda Mama back? Women deserve dignity, support, and compassion in their most vulnerable moments.”
Linda Mama
Launched in 2016 by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Linda Mama provided free maternal healthcare services – covering antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal services – for up to Ksh10,000 per pregnancy.
The program served over 600,000 mothers annually at its peak, drastically reducing maternal mortality rates. However, it was suspended in 2022 amid NHIF reforms and funding shortfalls, replaced by the fragmented Social Health Authority (SHA) system, which many criticise for bureaucratic hurdles and limited coverage.
