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The term of the current Parliament has been extended by a week to allow members finalise key pending bills.

Speaker Justin Muturi said the National Assembly will now commence the sine die recess on Friday, June 17 and not June 9.

Moving the motion seeking to alter the calendar of the Assembly’s regular sessions for the sixth session, Leader of Majority Amos Kimunya said the decision was reached to allow members to pass the pending bills.

Kimunya said Parliament would  have to approve the Budget estimates which are yet to be tabled. Also yet to be tabled is the Finance Bill.

Money bills

They will also have to amend the Public Finance Management Act which seeks to broaden the definition of debt ceiling.

The crucial County Allocation Bill from the Senate is also yet to be passed which means that counties will be denied access to money if Parliament goes on recess before passing the bill.

Addressing journalists during a workshop in Mombasa at the weekend, Muturi said the extended sitting had been informed by the fact that the Senate had not finalised key bills.

“The two Houses must concur before money bills to do with counties are passed. It is due to this requirement that we have to extend the life of the current Parliament by a week,” Muturi said.