It's full in tray for MPs smarting from Parliament breach by Gen Z

The National Assembly will resume sittings on Tuesday after a month-long recess after passing the controversial Financial Bill 2024 which led to Gen Z to storm Parliament in protest.

The House will embark on revision of budget estimates after President William Ruto declined to assent to the Finance Bill following pressure from protesters across the country.

Several Members of Parliament who spoke to The Standard said they will prioritise the issues that are of interest to Kenyans like the passing of the revised budget estimates to ensure service delivery by the national and county governments.

National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Mwengi Mutuse said Kenyans are in need of development and it was their duty as legislators to look at the presidential memorandum rejecting the Finance Bill and ensure that the country is running smoothly.

“Let me clarify that the National Assembly did not go on recess due to protesters invading Parliament Buildings since this was already scheduled according to the parliamentary calendar, it is only that it happened two days earlier than expected,” said Mutuse.

Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli said that they look forward to a more reawakened Parliament where the interest of Kenyans will be put first at all times and they will vet Cabinet Secretary nominees to ensure that they meet the suitability to serve.

“We will be giving each of the Cabinet nominees a fair chance and we discourage a lynch mob, we ask Kenyans to present memorandums over the suitability of the nominees which will be looked at by Parliament to ensure that we have credible individuals in office,” said Sunkuli.

Kitutu Chache South Anthony Kibagendi was categorical that Parliament has to rise to the occasion and put the interests of citizens above everything else so as to avoid the current scenario being witnessed in future which shows that elected leaders no longer have the confidence of citizens.

“Parliament has got a full tray to deal with the matters that are aimed at getting the country back to normalcy being prioritized, we cannot afford to let down the people who elected us since they do not have confidence in us, we have a lot of work to do to gain their trust,” said Kibagendi.

The President dismissed his first Cabinet of 22 members in acceding to demands by protesters who asked for a total overhaul over what they termed as alleged incompetence and corruption.

Ruto has already named 11 Cabinet Nominees as he awaits to finalise the list where he is said to be keen to include some opposition figures in efforts to form a broad based government that will help him deliver his agenda and quell the rising political temperatures in the country.

Rebecca Miano who previously served as Trade Cabinet Secretary has been nominated as Attorney General and if approved by Parliament, she will replace Justin Muturi and make history as the first female AG in Kenya.

President Ruto has nominated Prof Kithure Kindiki to return to his Interior docket.

Aden Duale who served as Defence Cabinet Secretary has been nominated to the same position while Soipan Tuya who served as the Environment Cabinet Secretary has also been nominated to the same position with their fate to be determined by parliamentary vetting committee.

Davis Chirchir, who served as Energy Cabinet Secretary has been nominated as Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary, a position held formerly by Kipchumba Murkomen while the Energy Ministry is yet to be allocated a nominee by the President.

The President nominated Julius Ogamba currently the KenGen Chairman as Education Cabinet Secretary, a position previously held by Ezekiel Machogu while Dr Debra Barasa has been nominated to replace Susan Nakhumicha as Health Cabinet Secretary.

Ruto nominated Margaret Ndung’u as ICT Cabinet Secretary to replace Eliud Owalo while Eric Muuga has been nominated as Water Cabinet Secretary, a position formerly held by Zachariah Njeru.

The President has nominated Dr Andrew Karanja as Agriculture Cabinet Secretary and if approved by Parliament he will replace Mithika Linturi whose tenure was bedeviled with the fake fertilizer scandal and narrowly survived impeachment by Parliament.

“Following extensive consultations I have named 11 nominees for Cabinet Secretary positions and will be naming the other nominees for the remaining slots in due course and also give a clear roadmap over the operation of the cabinet in the next few days,” said Ruto.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula in a communication to MPs on basic applicable procedure and implications of the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 on Financial year 2024/2025 budget said that it was notable the House had already passed the Appropriation Bill 2024.

The Speaker informed members that the new financial year started July 1, 2024 with the instruments which authorise the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund for utilisation by the national government being the Appropriation Bill which is distinct from the Finance Bill.

“We are guided that the financing gap may be bridged by the reduction of approved expenditure, this may be achieved by enacting a Supplementary Appropriation Bill in accordance with the applicable procedure,” said Wetangula.

He said that the President memorandum has referred the Finance Bill 2024 back to the National Assembly for reconsideration with reservations recommending the deletion of all the 69 clauses and he has already referred the memorandum to the Finance and Planning Committee.

“Upon receipt of the President’s memorandum, the Speaker is required to refer the memorandum to the Finance and National Planning Committee, I have referred the memorandum to the committee for consideration and reporting to the National Assembly when it next sits,” said Wetangula.

He said that the President’s memorandum recommending deletion of all clauses of the Bill notes that it is informed by the need to reflect the voice of the people of Kenya who rejected the Bill in its entirety with the House and Finance Committee taking this justification into account in their deliberations.

Wetangula pointed out that the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 will occasion a financial gap of approximately Sh300 billion between the expenditure approved by the National Assembly through the Appropriation Bill 2024 and the projected revenues that may be raised from the existing tax measures.

The Speaker explained that the Budget for any financial year comprises estimates of expenditure for the national government with the approved estimates of expenditure translated into an appropriation bill for consideration and passage by the National Assembly.

“It is not unusual for the President to refer a bill back to the house with reservations recommending its rejection through deletion of all its clauses, the National Assembly has previously received and considered President’s reservations recommending the deletion of all clauses in bill during the 11th and 12th parliaments,” he said.