Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has called on Members of Parliament to fast-track the passage of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bill, saying it has been pending in the House for far too long.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Odhiambo expressed frustration that the Bill first introduced three Parliaments agon remains stalled despite its potential to help Kenyans who are unable to conceive naturally start families through assisted reproduction.
The ART Bill aims to regulate assisted reproduction services in Kenya by creating a legal framework for clinics, donors, and parents. It provides for the licensing of ART facilities, donor consent, gamete and embryo storage, and the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. It also prohibits human cloning, the commercial trade of embryos, and sex selection for non-medical reasons.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma had earlier moved a motion to recommit the Bill to the committee stage to amend the definitions of “father” and “mother.” He proposed replacing “intended parent” with “male parent” and “female parent,” aligning the definitions with the Children’s Act.
Odhiambo, however, opposed the recommittal motion, warning that it would further delay the Bill’s passage. “This Bill has been here too long—it is now in its third Parliament. We can’t legislate for eternity,” she said, urging her colleagues to allow the Bill to proceed to the Senate.
Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss supported Odhiambo’s position, saying delaying the Bill could lead to the proliferation of unregulated reproductive practices. “If we don’t complete it, we are allowing illegalities to happen. Similar laws exist in other countries, and we can amend it later if needed,” she said.
Odhiambo reaffirmed her commitment to seeing the Bill become law, calling it a deeply personal cause aimed at helping families achieve their dream of having children.
