This week in Parliament, lawmakers in both Houses grappled with urgent questions on child welfare, reproductive health legislation and the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.
Senators Press CS Cheptumo on Chronic Underfunding in Child Protection Services
Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, appeared before the Senate plenary to address what legislators termed persistent underfunding and operational inefficiencies in her ministry—particularly within the newly established State Department for Children Services.
The session was prompted by questions from Nominated Senator Miraj Abdilahi, who challenged the ministry’s commitment to strengthening child protection systems.
Miraj criticised what she described as chronic underfunding of the Directorate of Children Services, now elevated to a full State Department.
She sought clarity on budget estimates for the 2025/2026 financial year and projected allocations going forward.
In her response, Cheptumo conceded that inadequate financing had long undermined the department’s ability to fulfil its mandate.
“The Ministry fully recognises the long-standing challenge of underfunding,” said Cheptumo. “We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure that child protection financing is mainstreamed into broader national planning and resource mobilisation frameworks.”
She revealed that in May 2025, the ministry initiated high-level budget advocacy with the Departmental Committee on Social Protection of the National Assembly. During those deliberations, the ministry requested an additional Sh10 billion on top of the initial allocation proposed for 2025/2026 to bolster child protection services nationwide.
National Assembly passes landmark assisted Reproductive Technology Bill
In a major legislative milestone, the National Assembly passed—with amendments—the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bill, 2022, offering renewed hope to individuals and couples unable to conceive naturally.
The Bill, sponsored by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, seeks to create Kenya’s first comprehensive legal framework for surrogacy and other assisted reproduction services.
The approved version expressly bans commercial surrogacy, allowing only altruistic surrogacy for Kenyan citizens who are divorced, widowed or single—provided they are certified by an ART expert as incapable of natural conception.
Key provisions of the Bill include licensing ART clinics, regulating donor consent, and establishing safeguards to prevent exploitation in surrogacy arrangements.
MPs mourn 35 deaths in Elgeyo Marakwet landslides, call for urgent action
A sombre mood engulfed the National Assembly as MPs mourned the deaths of at least 35 people and the disappearance of 16 others following catastrophic landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet County on November 1, 2025.
Elgeyo Marakwet County MP Caroline Ng’elechei described the tragedy as “unimaginable, devastating, and desperate,” noting that the landslides ravaged Embobut, Embalot, Endo, Sambirir in Marakwet East, and Emsoo Ward in Keiyo North.
“Entire villages have been submerged or swept away by torrents of mud and debris, leaving behind scenes that are heartbreaking,” said Ng’elechei.
“Thirty-five lives have been lost, more than sixteen people remain missing, and hundreds of families have been displaced.”
Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo urged the Government to relocate affected families and convert vulnerable areas into protected forest lands.
“This tragedy will never go away unless families are moved to safer ground,” said Bartoo. “The Government should compensate victims, rebuild destroyed schools, and support students undertaking exams.”
