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{
    "id": 1294518,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1294518/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 322,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13587,
        "legal_name": "Abass Sheikh Mohamed",
        "slug": "abass-sheikh"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity. The Social Health Insurance is actually an appropriate insurance for Kenyans health cover. This replaces the old National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). As you are aware, in the past, NHIF has been giving health covers to this country. There has been a lot of abuse of the official services and payments. There are many cartels involved in these things. Having said that, hopefully as it is said in the Bill, the current Social Health Care Services will have a lot of checks and balances to minimize abuse of the health insurance. Madam Temporary Speaker, primary health care is a very important facility for Kenyans. Most of the Kenyans cannot afford to pay for the premiums given by the private insurances. The social health care now becomes a safety measure for the Kenyans so that at least they can be able to access appropriate health services. However, there are two concerns. One was actually said by Sen. Sifuna. The Bill says that the current staff will be retired or moved to other Ministries. This is going to be very unfair to this logistical staff. They have built enough capacity and knowledge. If there are any anomalies with the existing staff, the best thing is to vet them. They should not just be sacked or sent away home the way it is being said that the current authority will recruit its own staff. These are also Kenyans and they have the right to be employed. They should be given the first priority. Madam Temporary Speaker, as you are aware, the Senate Majority Leader was saying that this covers everybody. What happens in Kenya is that Kenyans above 65 years are really having a lot of challenges. Most of the insurances do not like to give them covers. They subject them to a lot of examinations and most of them do not qualify because of their age. These are Kenyans who have served this country in their lifetime until they attained 60 years old. I think in the past, there was a special case for those cadres. They have associations such as the Kenya Association of Retired Officers. At least that was an association that was helping and when registered through the NHIF, they were able to access a cover. That helped so many Kenyans and their families who could not afford. These things have been overlooked. Two, the school going children need to have a free cover. This has not been set anywhere. I think there are a lot of gaps that we need to discuss more so that at least these people are not left out. This is because the children going to school, are our next generation and the elderly have served this country. Some of us here were beneficiaries of that cover through what we call the former Parliamentarians Association. Therefore, I wish to ask the Mover to look into these issues so that we can be able to save the elderly Kenyans who have served this country dedicatedly for 60 years and our children who are growing up so that they can at least have a better health care. Thank you."
}