Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Senators debated the Digital Health Bill, highlighting how electronic medical records can improve patient care, prevent disease, and bring Kenya in line with advanced health systems abroad. They stressed the shortcomings of paper‑based records and urged rapid passage of the legislation. The discussion was largely supportive, with brief procedural interruptions but no substantive opposition. Senators debated the Social Health Insurance Bill, questioning the lack of clarity on contribution tariffs, package tiers and the fate of existing NHIF staff, while urging inclusion of the elderly and school‑going children. At the same time, they praised the proposed emergency, chronic and critical illness fund as a vital safeguard for Kenyans. The discussion combined criticism with strong support for key protective provisions. The Senate examined a petition on the Changara Water Pan project, exposing alleged irregularities, stalled construction and safety concerns, while also laying reports on unlawful salary deductions of female teachers and the Care and Protection of Child Parents Bill. The chamber then debated a data‑duplication bill intended to improve digital record‑keeping and service delivery, with procedural interruptions noted. Overall, the session combined criticism of governance failures with constructive legislative discussion.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we now have Quorum. Kindly stop the Bell. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order, please.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Report on the Table of the Senate, today, 11th October, 2023- Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a Petition to the Senate by Ms. Tarsila Mwashimba and others, concerning unlawful salary deductions of female teachers by the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) .
[(Sen. Cheruiyot laid the document on the Table)]
Hon. Okiya Omutatah, please proceed.
We, the undersigned citizens of the Republic of Kenya and residents of Changara in Teso North Sub-County, Busia County, draw the attention of the Senate to the following particulars of the project - THAT the Changara Water Pan Project was funded Kshs24.8 million in June, 2019 by the World Bank through the national Government. THAT the project is being implemented by the County Government of Busi…
Most of the pipes are already leaking, despite the project not having been completed. The people downstream are and will be in considerable danger of being washed away if the embankment walls collapse, since the walls were not properly compacted. The contractor did not have an independent site engineer, instead relied on the Agriculture Department engineers, who were reasonably compromised. The…
Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.238
Sen. Lomenen, proceed. Is the hon. Senator not in the Chamber? That Petition is dropped.
Proceed, Senate Majority Leader.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 11th October, 2023 -
Proceed, Chairperson, Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 11th October, 2023: Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on its consideration of the Care and protection of Child Parents Bill, (Senate Bill No.29 of 2023) .
Hon. Senators, for the convenience of the House and pursuant to Standing Order No.45 (2) , I wish to rearrange the sequence of today's Order Paper, to the extent that we move to prosecute Order No.13, move to Order No.14, then to Order No.15. After that, we can resume the flow of business as contained in the Order Paper. Clerk, kindly proceed to call the Orders in that particular order.
Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the Social Health Insurance Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 58 of 2023) be now read a Second Time. This Bill was published on 11th September, 2023 and passed by the National Assembly on 27th September, 2023. Thereafter, the Bill was referred to the Senate for consideration. The principal objective of this particular Bill is to put in place a legislat…
Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the Social Health Insurance Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 58 of 2023) be now read a Second Time. This Bill was published on 11th September, 2023 and passed by the National Assembly on 27th September, 2023. Thereafter, the Bill was referred to the Senate for consideration. The principal objective of this particular Bill is to put in place a legislat…
no single day, unless you are an animal from another planet, you cannot be a leader in this country and wake up by 6.00 a.m. and by 8.00 o’clock, that you do not have a message from your phone from a Kenyan trying to reach out to you and saying ‘I went to this hospital, this is what they want, I cannot afford or we lost a relative and did this or the other.’ Therefore, over and above the good int…
we have is a capitalist healthcare system where it is only accessible to those that can pay. We cannot continue that way. We need to build and give enabling conditions for UHC as provided in this Bill so that we provide the safety net for all Kenyans and they can feel proud to be part and parcel of us. Further, Madam Temporary Speaker, this social health insurance promotes fairness and social co…
Thank you, Senator. Proceed, Sen. Mandago.
Thank you, Senator. Proceed, Sen. Mandago.
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker and Senate Majority Leader. First and foremost, I wish to second this Bill. The Bill has been well elaborated by the Senate Majority Leader. However, allow me in my seconding, to make a few remarks and concerns that have been raised. I think it is because of the information that probably has not gone out to the public and citizens of this country. Madam Tempora…
Sen. Wakili Sigei, what is your point of order?
Madam Temporary Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order under Standing Order No.113 to limit debate on this Bill to a maximum of five minutes per Member. Sen. Cherarkey will second me.
Sen. Cherarkey, Have you seconded? I did not see that. You have seconded.
[(Sen. Cherarkey stood in his place and bowed)]
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Each Senator will not go beyond five minutes. Sen. Cherarkey?
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Mine is to support the Social Health Insurance Fund Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 58 of 2023) . This Bill is one of the enablers of UHC which includes the discussion we have just had. I am happy because this Bill gives each and every Kenyan the opportunity to receive insurance cover. For very long, insurance cover has been the privilege of the chosen few, b…
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Mine is to support the Social Health Insurance Fund Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 58 of 2023) . This Bill is one of the enablers of UHC which includes the discussion we have just had. I am happy because this Bill gives each and every Kenyan the opportunity to receive insurance cover. For very long, insurance cover has been the privilege of the chosen few, b…
Hon. Senators, I have Communication from the Chair.
[(Interruption of debate on Bill)]
Hon. Senators, I have Communication from the Chair.
[(Interruption of debate on Bill)]
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to take this time to join you and colleagues to welcome the pupils and teachers from Narok County to the Senate. You are welcome to the Senate. This is the upper House of Parliament and I want to invite you to learn what we do here in the Senate. Thank you so much and welcome again.
The following Senators, please proceed to the Clerk’s desk for assistance - Sen. Githuku, Sen. Methu and Sen. Osotsi. Where is Sen. Osotsi? He is not in. Sen. Tobiko, please approach the Clerk.
[(Sen. Githuku and Sen. Methu approached the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
[(Sen. Tobiko approached the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
The following Senators, please proceed to the Clerk’s desk for assistance - Sen. Githuku, Sen. Methu and Sen. Osotsi. Where is Sen. Osotsi? He is not in. Sen. Tobiko, please approach the Clerk.
[(Sen. Githuku and Sen. Methu approached the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
[(Sen. Tobiko approached the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
Hon. Senators, resume your seats. Hon. Senators, these are the results of the Division -
Hon. Senators, you may proceed to vote. Please cast your votes. Sen. Gataya Mo Fire and Sen. Chesang, please approach the Clerks to be assisted.
Hon. Senators, the results of the Division in respect of the County Government Additional Allocation Bill (National Assembly Bill No.23 of 2023) is as follows:
Hon. Senators, the Senate had earlier on resolved to extend time till the conclusion of business at Order No.13, 14 and