Judiciary gets Sh16 billion for 2013/14

By FELIX OLICK

Nairobi, Kenya: The Government has allocated Sh16.1 billion to the Judiciary and Sh19 billion to Parliament in the 2013/2014 financial year.

The amount allocated to the Judiciary however, falls short of Sh24.1 billion proposed by the Judiciary headed by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

The Judiciary is planning to acquire a fixed-wing plane for Sh300 million to fly judges, their assistants and Judiciary staff to far-flung areas as part of their years budget this year.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich promised the Government would continue with institutional transformation as entrenched in the Constitution as he presented his first budget to the National Assembly yesterday.

“Towards this end, we have allocated Sh16.1 billion for the Judiciary to continue with its transformation programmes so as to expand access to justice throughout the country,” Rotich said.

Rotich also said that the Sh19 billion allocated to Parliament is meant for the completion of its expansion programmes given the introduction of the bi-cameral system and expanded representation.

Currently, Senators are sitting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) as their chamber is still being refurbished.

Rotich also promised to continue engaging with the National Assembly on the Sh4 billion for constitutional reforms that was not approved by the Budget and Appropriation Committee.

“While the Budget and Appropriation Committee did not consider favourably our proposal to set aside Sh4 billion for constitutional reforms, we will engage further with the National Assembly to ensure that we continue with these reforms, because this is what the Constitution requires us to do,” he noted.

He said that a number of legislations aimed at entrenching civil liberties, supporting county governments, enabling public participation in decision making, and ensuring diversity and gender balance, will shortly be submitted to Parliament

Rotich said that the institutional framework built on the foundation of the new Constitution has proven resilient and capable of mediating the challenges that arise from competition for political power.