Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
The Senate questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Health on the accessibility of health services for persons with disabilities, prompting a detailed briefing on the Universal Health Coverage rollout and disability‑inclusive initiatives. The Minister highlighted progress such as increased ramps, wheelchairs and training, while also acknowledging gaps, notably the low proportion of disability‑friendly maternity beds. The discussion underscored ongoing assessments, county‑level interventions, and plans for an assistive‑technology centre of excellence. Senator Cherarkey condemned the use of administration police by micro‑finance lenders to repossess movable assets, urging the cabinet to curb such practices and to renegotiate non‑performing loan laws. He simultaneously defended the Hustler Fund and the boda‑boda sector as vital to livelihoods and economic growth, urging citizens to utilise the fund. The debate highlighted tensions between borrower protection and credit access. Senators debated the hardships faced by youth motorcycle operators due to aggressive lending practices and called for legal amendments to enable loan renegotiation. They also criticised the current taxation regime and questioned the government’s delivery on promises related to the Credit Reference Bureau and the Hustler Fund, while a procedural clash arose over alleged misinformation. The discussion combined constructive policy proposals with sharp political criticism.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Serjeant-at-Arms, we now have quorum. Kindly stop the Bell. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order.
Hon. Senators, we had invited three Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) , including the Prime Cabinet Secretary, for purposes of responding to Questions this morning. However, the Prime Cabinet Secretary will not be able to attend this sitting today for purposes of responding to Question No.018, as he is engaged with the visit of His
Majesty King Charles III as the Escort of Honour. Therefore, he will not be in the Senate for purposes of responding to that Question. However, we have the CS for Health and the CS for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management who are within the precincts of Parliament for purposes of responding to Questions posed to their Ministries. We will, therefore, proceed to Question No.019. Cle…
widows, widowers, orphaned children, poverty, displacement of people leading to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS), disruption of educational programs and other economic activities owing to the destruction and/or closure of educational, health and other institutions; FURTHER CONCERNED THAT; the people living in the affected regions have been denied the enjoyment of their social, economic and pol…
Sen. (Dr.) Oburu, I will interrupt you because it is already 1.00 p.m. When we resume this debate, you will have a balance of 11 minutes to contribute to this Motion. Hon. Senators, it is now 1:00 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until today Wednesday, 1st November, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. The House rose at 1:00 p.m.