{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=148327","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=148325","results":[{"id":1501452,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501452/?format=json","text_counter":47,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"We have also ensured the seamless transition of learners from primary to junior secondary and domiciled Grades 7, 8 and 9 in primary school, optimizing the use of existing infrastructure, ensuring the safety of young learners and protecting parents from the high costs associated with boarding schools far away. Recognizing the financial challenges faced by our universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), we introduced a new student-centred higher education funding model. This model gives priority to the most vulnerable students, offering them up to 95 per cent government support, while also pulling our universities back from the brink of collapse. The remaining challenges for a few universities such as Moi University, are related to internal administrative and governance issues, which I have given firm instructions that they should be addressed."},{"id":1501453,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501453/?format=json","text_counter":48,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Applause)"},{"id":1501454,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501454/?format=json","text_counter":49,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"To further enhance access to higher education, we launched the Open University of Kenya, and this House approved that exercise, paving the way for more students to achieve their academic goals. The institution's first cohort of students is scheduled to graduate next week, on 29th November, 2024. Hon. Members, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), is the cornerstone of our transformation agenda and a matter that touches every Kenyan family. Despite Health being a devolved function, we acknowledge the immense financial burden that comes with health. Counties have struggled with shortages of medicine, equipment, and sometimes staff, hindering service delivery and leaving countless Kenyans with sub- optimal access to healthcare. It would have been easy for me to step back and leave this responsibility to counties alone, but that would have been a disservice to Kenyans and a betrayal to our Constitution. Instead of engaging in debates about healthcare being devolved, I have chosen the hardest, but necessary path of addressing this challenge head on."},{"id":1501455,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501455/?format=json","text_counter":50,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Applause)"},{"id":1501456,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501456/?format=json","text_counter":51,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"Health delivery is not just about fulfilling a constitutional mandate followed by whatever level of government. It is about ensuring that healthcare is not a privilege for the few who can afford and a pipe dream for the many that cannot. For years, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) was saddled with debts and inefficiencies, and healthcare was being severely and negatively impacted. For far too The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1501457,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501457/?format=json","text_counter":52,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"long, too many households have lived on the edge, just one inch less away from financial catastrophe. Our healthcare system has historically neglected the poor and vulnerable, leaving them without any option, while private sector medical coverage remained out of reach for the majority. This is precisely what we will correct through the provision of universal health coverage. This agenda is not just about a promise; it is about a bold commitment to deliver health through transformative financing reforms, making healthcare accessible and affordable, digitizing our healthcare services to enhance efficiency, eliminate fraud and stop corruption, and to empower a skilled and motivated health workforce. To honour our commitment on the UHC, I signed into law four groundbreaking legislations on the 19th October, 2024, passed by this august House. The Social Health Insurance Act replaced the outdated National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and established the Social Health Authority (SHA), which oversees three essential funds. This modern framework ensures that every Kenyan, especially the most vulnerable, can access quality healthcare services when they need it most. The shift from the NHIF model to Taifa Care is fundamental and radical in both skill and character. If I may give you a bit of example, NHIF served a few salaried Kenyans and those who could afford to pay, but Taifa Care covers every Kenyan, regardless of employment or financial status. Secondly, despite serving a limited class of citizens, NHIF nevertheless accumulated billions of shillings of debt because of misalignment between contributions and the actual cost of healthcare. Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services in order to provide affordable, timely, effective, and efficient service to every Kenyan. Additionally, the NHIF had a waiting period lasting between registration and eligibility for service; I think it was about three months. Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. I, therefore, urge every Kenyan to take the most important step in securing dependable healthcare for themselves and their families - register. Register now, or at the earliest possible opportunity."},{"id":1501458,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501458/?format=json","text_counter":53,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Applause)"},{"id":1501459,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501459/?format=json","text_counter":54,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"Hon. Members, for the first time in our nation's history, free primary healthcare is increasingly becoming available at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals. Ambulance and emergency services are also slowly, but surely being made available at no fee. Under the Taifa Care, we have introduced a comprehensive benefits package that brings specialized care, such as cardiothoracic surgery, within reach for many Kenyans without the burden of financial strain. Through the Digital Health Act, we are revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Every step of the process, from registration, eligibility checks to claims is now digitized. By eliminating unnecessary human The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1501460,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501460/?format=json","text_counter":55,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"His Excellency the President","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":168,"legal_name":"Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta","slug":"uhuru-kenyatta"},"content":"interaction, we are tackling corruption, reducing inefficiencies and ensuring that resources are used where they are needed most. As a result, the good news is, SHA will pay all October claims in full by next week and it will continue like that going into the future."},{"id":1501461,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501461/?format=json","text_counter":56,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Applause)"}]}