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The Ministry of Health(MoH) has clarified the differences between the medical cover issued to public servants and the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme offered to public servants.

According to the Ministry, the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA raised questions about how medical coverage for public servants was structured and brought confusion among them.

Explaining the distinction between the Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MAKL) and SHA, the ministry revealed that MAKL is a private medical insurance administrator that primarily manages healthcare schemes for specific public sector groups.

According to MoH, MAKL acts as an intermediary, administering health insurance services on behalf of insurers contracted by the public servants.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki(right) and Health CS Deborah Barasa during the inaugural National and County Governments Health Summit in Nairobi on February 17, 2025.

DPPS

The scheme covers healthcare costs based on negotiated agreements between the employer and the insurance provider. They have varying benefit packages depending on the contractual terms.

This means that the medical benefits for these groups are structured differently from the public officers covered under SHA.

The Ministry explained that while MALK is an employer-based medical insurance, SHA is the national health insurance provider under Universal Health Care (UHC) offering services to all Kenyans and public servants.

"The major distinction is that MAKL functions as a private third-party administrator, managing employer-sponsored health insurance schemes for specific sectors, whereas SHA is a public institution offering standardized health benefits for all public officers not covered under separate employer-administered schemes, as well as the general public not in formal employment," read the clarification statement by the ministry.

The ministry explained that both MAKL and SHA serve public servants.

"While both MAKL and SHA serve public servants, MAKL is an employer-specific medical scheme administrator, while SHA is the national health insurance provider under UHC," the statement continued.

The ministry revealed that SHA ensures that Kenyans receive uniform, high-quality healthcare services nationwide, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding access to healthcare under Taifa Care.

Despite the numerous challenges faced by SHA, the ministry has assured Kenyans and public servants that it is committed to delivering equitable and efficient health services.

Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni holds meeting with health unions representatives.

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MOH

In recent weeks, it has been a game of tug of war between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja in Parliament, with each party contending to land on the majority side of the House.

On October 6, 2022, after the general election, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula declared the Kenya Kwanza Coalition the majority party.

Wetang'ula's decision back then to name Kenya Kwanza as the majority side was recently opposed on February 7, 2025, by the Kenyan High Court, which termed it null and void, noting that the Speaker had no justifiable basis for reassigning 14 members from various parties to Kenya Kwanza.

Wetang'ula, however, surfaced and cemented that Kenya Kwanza remains the majority party with 165 MPs, while Azimio remains the minority party with 154 MPs.

A photo collage of the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Members of Parliament at a past sitting.

Photo

Kenyans.co.ke

"Arising from the foregoing, Kenya Kwanza is the majority, and Azimio is the minority. The leadership of the House remains unchanged," he said.

Wetang'ula's declaration this month has faced pushback from the Azimio side, who have, for the past two years, opposed Kenya Kwanza's supremacy in the House. You might wonder: why is being declared the majority in the National Assembly such a big deal?

So, here is why being the Majority and Minority in Parliament is a big deal:

Parliament is a legislative, elected body of government tasked with representing the electorate, making laws, authorising government expenditure, scrutinising activities of government ministries, departments, and agencies, and providing a forum for debate on national issues.

Political parties in Parliament are responsible for exercising power, either by supporting the government or opposing it. They are divided into two: the Majority and Minority sides, depending on the number of members on each side.

Some of the key functions of the Majority side, which consists of more members, include forming the government, proposing and passing legislation, setting the legislative agenda, making leadership and committee appointments, and defending the government's policy.

The Minority side, on the other hand, which consists of fewer members, is responsible for scrutinizing government policies and legislation, providing checks and balances, and holding the government accountable for its actions, especially in areas like budgeting, public expenditures, and oversight of state agencies. 

This means that the Majority side has a slight advantage in accomplishing its political mandate in the House compared to the Minority.

Each side has a leader, as provided by Article 108 of the Constitution. The leader of the Majority is responsible for functions such as planning daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas, while the Minority Leader is tasked with developing and championing the Minority position on issues and debates of the Minority party.

On Tuesday, February 18, speaking in an interview with Citizen TV, Kitui Central Member of Parliament Makali Mulu further revealed that having the Majority and Minority is a key determinant of which side steers which committees in the House.

According to Mulu, the Majority in Parliament is tasked with chairing the majority of the committees, while the Minority side chairs "watchdog" or oversight committees, which are fewer in number.

"Immediately you are declared to be the Minority, you have very few committees to chair, but once you are told you are the Majority, even first-timers can chair committees," he said.

"It is dishonest to Kenyans to start mixing that you are in the Minority, and you are taking committees meant for the Majority. If it is determined that Azimio is the Majority, can they take all the committees that are supposed to be chaired by the Majority? And if Kenya Kwanza is the Minority, can they take the committees meant to be chaired by the Minority, which are the watchdogs?" he added.

A committee is a small group of members appointed and empowered by the House to perform one or more specific tasks.

In the Kenyan National Assembly, committees are tasked with reviewing legislation, reviewing and approving the budget and expenditures, scrutinising government programmes, policy frameworks, and development plans, conducting investigations on special issues, vetting and approving executive appointments, and providing a platform for public participation, among others.

Budget and Appropriations Committee in session in the National Assembly.

Parliament of Kenya

Building designs have evolved over time with structural engineers continually developing innovative concepts that prioritise both environmental sustainability and cost savings.

One of those modern concepts is Cobiax technology, which utilises a unique hollow-core slab system to reduce the amount of concrete needed in floor and roof construction. This is done by incorporating spherical void formers made of plastic.

Cobiax is a company name from Germany that utilises modern designs to create innovative building solutions.

Currently, most structural engineers and developers use concrete to build rooms, a practice that is more common in residential and commercial areas where storied buildings are necessary. 

A collage of construction workers laying concrete on Cobiax balls and a normal concrete spreading technology.

How it works

According to experts, this method is used at two stages of construction, either at the foundation or at the roofing level.

In this new technology, once the house reaches the preferred level of use, spherical balls are placed inside metal reinforcement bars filling up the space that was initially taken up by a lot of concrete in old construction models. A layer of concrete is then added to spherical balls.

 Benefits 

The old roofing and flooring methods often employed a risk factor though minimal, where a lot of weight was added to the overall structure due to the large amount of concrete used.

Experts, however, swear that this method reduces the weight load by eliminating dead load. Further, it offers the construction of a membrane-reinforced concrete slab in the upper and lower beams as well as the formation of internal network 2 along the placement of the balls across the central space.

A single truckload of preassembled Cobiax void balls can replace the equivalent of seven truckloads of concrete, while one truckload of unassembled Cobiax components can substitute up to 25 truckloads of concrete.

This method also reduces the amount of steel required to reinforce the concrete, translating to a more cost-effective and efficient construction process.

By recycling the waste plastics to make the balls, the technology offers an immediate alternative to recycle the waste materials. 

Cement production is also associated with a complex industrial process that is associated with carbon emissions. The reduction of the amount of concrete used means that its use is reduced significantly. 

Additionally, the technology allows for better energy efficiency in buildings. The hollow cores in the slabs help to improve insulation, reducing the need for heating and cooling. This contributes to lower energy consumption and sustainable building practices.

Application

This technology can be applied in the construction of any type of house. Currently, the technology is highly used in developed areas where large-scale commercial and residential buildings where open spaces are required without excessive weight.

The Cobiax technology is also appropriate for the construction of high-rise buildings, bridges, and parking garages. 

This technology is set to significantly redefine the construction industry, especially at a time when the world seems to be moving to environmental sustainability and design flexibility.

A collage of cobiax technology layering and normal concrete layering.

Cobiax/Orad

January is one of the months that a majority of Kenyans often find themselves in constant fights with their landlords over rent payments and associated delays.

Landlords, in return, respond by either locking doors, cutting supply to water, power or even completely ejecting the tenants from their property. 

Did you know you can sue your landlord for seemingly simple yet costly actions such as cutting off power or water access to your rented house? If not, this article will guide you on how to take legal action.

In 2021, a tenant in the case of Joseph Njoroge v Peter Karanja (2020) won Ksh200,000 in damages after being evicted without notice, as required under the Landlord and Tenant Act. Initially, the landlord had punished the tenant through water and power disconnection.

An apartment building in Nairobi.

Photo

NEMA

The laws of Kenya under the Landlord and Tenant Act, alongside other legal provisions, protect tenants from harassment, including wrongful disconnection of utilities.

Section 12 of the Landlord and Tenant (Shops, Hotels, and Catering Establishments) Act, provides that landlords are obligated to provide uninterrupted services to their tenants unless there is a legal agreement to the contrary.

If a landlord does any form of disconnection without due process, then that can be deemed as harassment, making the landlord liable for legal action.

What to do

If your landlord has cut off your water or power supply for failure to pay rent, you can file a complaint with the Rent Restriction Tribunal or the Environment and Land Court. 

However, it is important to note that the Rent Restriction Tribunal handles rent disputes involving rental units with monthly rent not exceeding Ksh2,500. For those with higher rent amounts, tenants are advised to approach the Environment and Land Court.

The court has the mandate to resolve broader landlord-tenant conflicts, including wrongful eviction and utility disconnection.

But you should first issue a demand letter to the landlord, highlighting the illegality of the disconnection and seeking the immediate restoration of services.

Should the landlord fail to comply, then the law provides that you can file a formal complaint with the tribunal. The complaint may include a petition for compensation for the losses incurred due to the disconnection of water and electricity.

Outside Courts and Tribunals

If you find it difficult to follow the legal mechanisms, then alternatively you can contact local water and electricity utility companies to intervene on your behalf.

However, this might be a challenging task especially if it is the landlord who has the immediate legal engagement with the providers.

In summary, the law is however not pegged on a strict amount of money to be awarded, but from our observations, the award may range from between Ksh50,000 to Ksh200,00 depending on the stress that the landlord might cause to you. 

A collage of a token meter displaying the 'connect' (left) and several Customer Interface Units (CIU) of a building (right).

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Kenya Power