Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Senators voiced strong concerns about alleged corruption and mismanagement at the National Institute of Health Facilities and the performance of the State Health Agency, criticizing the Cabinet Secretary's inadequate responses. They called for detailed committee scrutiny, especially on rare disease treatment, private hospital debt disputes, and the handling of patient medication availability. The debate combined criticism with constructive proposals for oversight and better inter‑governmental coordination. The Health Cabinet Secretary outlined disbursements of Kshs1.3 billion for primary health care and Kshs5.1 billion to providers, and described steps to reconcile NHIF claims and integrate fragmented programmes. Senators questioned the mitigation measures for patients in the remote area of Bamba following the suspension of RUPHA and KAPH services, and raised procedural and language concerns. The debate combined constructive updates on funding with criticism and procedural tension. Senators pressed the Cabinet Secretary for Health on the mounting NHIF debt that is preventing civil servants from receiving treatment in private facilities, and on gaps in human resources and service delivery at lower‑level hospitals. The Cabinet Secretary framed Universal Health Coverage as a long‑term journey, outlining plans to settle the NHIF debt, improve health financing, and increase doctor availability through rotations and county collaboration. The exchange combined criticism of current shortcomings with assurances of ongoing reforms.
Clerk, confirm whether we have quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, I have confirmed we now have quorum. Let us transact business. Clerk, read out the first Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Deputy Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]
Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence of visiting teachers and pupils from Precious Blunt Primary School in Kiambu County in the public gallery this morning. The delegation comprises four teachers and 85 pupils who are in the Senate for a one-day academic exposition. In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors
to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them and, on behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, wish them a fruitful visit. Thank you. The Majority Leader, please, welcome the visitors.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Senate, I join you in welcoming these students from Precious Blood in Kiambu, who are here on a visit and a study tour of the Senate. This is the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. Sometimes, we are calm like this, while other times, it erupts. I do not want to promise that we will be this calm the entire session you will be here, but just in cas…
Next Order.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Wednesday, 26th February, 2025- Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of the County Executive of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2024. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of the County Assembly of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2024. Report of the Audito…
Hon. Senators, as you can see on the Order Paper, today, we are expecting two Cabinet Secretaries: The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, hon. (Eng.) Eric Muriithi Mugaa, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa. It has come to my attention that the Cabinet Secretary of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation is accompanying His Excellency the President on a …
Sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg for your indulgence so that we can dispense this letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Hon. (Eng.) Eric Muriithi Mugaa. I agree with you that
what the Cabinet Secretary is saying is important. However, coming here is equally as important. You know for a fact that a President's visit is not a thunderstorm that appears out of the blue. It is something that is planned weeks in advance, and the Cabinet Secretary was aware; he knew that he was supposed to be here today. Therefore, on all other accounts of things that we have raised in the p…
Senate Leader of the Majority, I do not want us to open this debate because it is somewhat reasonable that he has not appeared. However, I said anytime he is around this city, he should appear before the Senate to answer his questions. Hon. Senators, this gentleman is a first offender. This is the first invitation. I am aware of this, and we should be lenient with the Cabinet Secretary and encour…
[(Loud consultations)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the leaders on our side for handing this responsibility to me. I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Health is here and Sen.
Wambua is one of the people with questions for her. I am sure he will get an opportunity to say what he wants to. I was holding brief for the Senator for Migori who had a question to the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, regarding the Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project. I have never seen that Cabinet Secretary and I do not know how he looks like. If we met in the stre…
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President has said it himself that he struggles being the only person communicating the Government policy. It is true because who is this person who holds the water docket? I do not know him. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, if that gentleman walked in--- Maybe he is even present in this House but nobody knows. We were just asking ourselves here amongst the minority leadership wh…
I agree with you, hon. Senators and the leadership. He should learn as fast as possible that communication is key. There is nothing impromptu as the Senate Majority Leader said. The Cabinet Secretary has been guided accordingly by the Senate, that he should be communicating early enough. Sen. Sifuna, you said you do not know his name? His name is Eng. Eric Muriithi Muuga. I represent him in the S…
No.
Yes, because I am the Senator for Meru. I was elected by majority votes in the county with more than 350,000 out of 400,000 voters. However, I agree with you. We need to be respected as the Senate. Even though he is my brother, he needs to handle the Senate with a lot of respect and decorum. He has no choice. Hon. Members, the Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigatio…
If the Cabinet Secretary for Health is around, we can now welcome her to the Senate. was ushered into the Chamber)
[(The Cabinet Secretary for Health (Hon. (Dr.) Barasa)]
Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary for Health is here. Dr. Debra Barasa and your team, welcome to the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. We are here to interact with you on the four Questions that hon. Senators will raise on this Floor. I can see you and your team are prepared to answer them. We will start with Question No.016 by the nominated Senator, Sen. Mumma, who is also going to represent t…
Question No.016
Madam Cabinet Secretary, please, proceed to respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Health (Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa) : Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and hon. Members. The Social Health Insurance Act No.6 of 2023 came into effect on 22nd November, 2023, thereby repealing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Act No.28 of 1998. As at 30th September 2024, NHIF bank accounts held a total of Ks…
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have a quick question. Cabinet Secretary, by the time you implement what you have addressed to us, the interns will have lost hope, and you know what it is with them. Of course, they die, and they kill themselves. Does the Social Health Authority (SHA) cover psychological therapy sessions? Because that is what they require now. Since we do not want to lose any more li…
Cabinet Secretary, proceed. The Cabinet Secretary for Health (Hon. Barasa) : Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. One of the great achievements we have under the Social Health Authority is coverage of mental health disorders, and we are happy to report that it is incorporated. Under SHA, medical interns can access mental health services, including rehabilitation of substance abuse disorders.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m. time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate therefore stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 26 February 2025 at 2. 30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1:00 p.m.