Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 29 October 2025
Senators debated the rollout of the SHA Lipa Pole Pole scheme, noting its high uptake and collected funds while urging wider registration for universal health coverage. The discussion also covered large NHIF debt repayments, staffing cuts and redeployment, and raised concerns over the chairperson of SHA’s alleged conflicts of interest, reflecting both support for health financing and criticism of financial management. Senators questioned the Sustainable Health Assurance (SHA) payment system, pre‑authorisation rules and the burden on patients needing emergency care, while also raising concerns about governors favouring private facilities and the ongoing closure of St Mary’s Hospital due to unpaid claims. The Speaker and Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the issues, noting registration successes but admitting service delivery challenges, especially in maternal and infant health. The debate reflected both constructive inquiry and criticism of health sector implementation. Senators raised concerns about delayed reimbursements from the Social Health Authority (SHA), the limited reach of the Linda Mama programme for teenage mothers, and cases of mothers being detained in hospitals when extra days of care are not covered. The Cabinet Secretary responded by outlining the current budget, the number of beneficiaries reached, and measures such as community health promoters and direct facility funding to improve service delivery. The debate highlighted ongoing challenges in SHA implementation and calls for stronger monitoring and adherence to free‑treatment agreements.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Bell for a further 10 minutes Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Let us settle down and start the day's business. Clerk, kindly proceed to call the first Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection (Hon. (Dr.) Alfred Mutua) was ushered into the Chamber] Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, welcome to the Senate once again. You are before the Senate for purposes of responding to Question No.113 by the Senator for Kisumu County. Hon. Beatrice Ogola, you may proceed to ask that Question on behalf of the Senator for Kisumu C…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Allow me to read our Standing Orders No. 51C (5) before I ask my Question. It states- “A Cabinet Secretary shall provide a physical and electronic copy of a response to a Question at least twenty-four hours before appearing before the Senate.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Health has been a Member of Parliament, hence he knows that we need maximum time to look at the responses for us to engage. It will be kind for him to note that his team delivers the response on time. I say this because we received the response this morning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, are you saying that you are unable to interrogate that response effectively because it was received this morning? Is that your position or despite it having been received this morning, you are still comfortable interrogating the response? If that is the case, then you may proceed to---
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The response was received this morning at exactly 9.30 a.m. as the Chamber was starting. Luckily, I have gone through the responses and I am okay. We can engage.
You may now proceed to ask your Question. Question No.103
Seneta, uko na dakika moja, ili Bw. Waziri akujibu.
Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika. Bw. Waziri, kama utaweza kunijibu hilo swali itakuwa vyema zaidi.The Cabinet Secretary for Health (Hon. Aden Duale): Bw. Naibu Spika, Kiswahili ni kigumu lakini ningependa kumwambia Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale kwamba mimi ninaheshimu sana Bunge. I have a lot of respect for Parliament and I do not want go into that. I have no hubris and I have a lot of respect for the Members of th…
Asante, Bw. Waziri kwa kufika Seneti. Tunawashukuru na muende salama.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 29th October, 2025 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.