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Lawmakers have protested the reduction of their budget by Sh3.7 billion saying it will affect reimbursements of mileage claims.
Appearing before the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) chaired by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) said the reduction on domestic travel by 50 percent, will undermine the core oversight function of parliament as committee work relies heavily on travel for public participation.

The commission added the cut will also affect activities such as inquiries, stakeholder engagement, fact finding missions and representation which are core mandates of the legislature.

Communication supplies

The supplementary Estimates 1, 2024/2025 has proposed reductions on a number of areas such as communication, supplies and services by 20 percent, domestic travel, subsistence and other transportation (50 percent), membership fees, dues and subscriptions to professional and trade bodies (100 percent), foreign travel subsistence and other transportation costs (20 percent), training expenses (20 percent), temporary committees expenses (20 per cent) and other operating expenses 100 percent.

Other proposed reductions are on the maintenance of buildings and stations (residential and non-residential) by 50 percent as well as refurbishment of buildings, purchase of motor vehicles and other transport equipment, purchase of office furniture and general equipment and research, feasibility studies at 100 percent.

Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge and his Senate counterpart who doubles up as PSC Secretary Jeremiah Nyegenye appealed to the committee to instead reduce parliament budget by Sh2 billion and not the entire Sh3.7 billion.

The duo argued that proposed cuts on PSC should be done in a manner that takes into account specific mandates of parliament and the commission to ensure minimum disruptions of core function.

Said Nyegenye: “Further mileage falls under domestic travel and reducing it will imply a suspension of mileage reimbursements.”

He added: “The majority of committee work relies heavily on domestic travel to fulfil those responsibilities. Maintaining full funding under this line item is necessary to ensure that committees can continue to meet their obligations and serve the public effectively.”

In his presentation before the committee, Nyegenye observed that the budget which was reduced from the initial Sh44.5 billion to Sh40.86 billion saw PSC losing Sh54.6 million from Sh1.2b to Sh1.1billion, National Assembly losing Sh1.8billion from Sh26.8billion to Sh24.9 billion, senate losing Sh544.3 million from Sh8 billion to Sh7.5 billion while joint services lost Sh1.2billion from Sh8.5billion to Sh7.3 billion.

He further observed that the proposed reduction of refurbishment of buildings, purchase of motor vehicles, equipment and office furniture by 100 percent will affect the normalisation of the legislature as well impair service delivery especially now with the planned renovations of parliament.

The reduction of communication, supplies and services, he said, will affect the operations of the commission and effectiveness of other critical departments.

He claimed that this budget line provides for advertisement of public participation is an essential component under article 118 of the constitution.

He said: “A number of court decisions have faulted parliament for inadequate notification and sensitization for public participation, stressing its importance. Therefore underfunding this area will compromise our democratic process and diminish the legitimacy and quality of our legislation.”

On the proposed 100 percent reduction on membership fees, dues and subscription, the duo argued that this will adversely affect Kenya’s international obligation as they would be unable to fulfil commitments to international organisations.

The bodies in question include Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Forum of Parliaments for International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR).

He said: “Maintaining these memberships is important for upholding Kenya’s reputation and responsibilities on the international stage.”

The sentiments by the two came even as they asked BAC for an additional Sh2.88 billion to be able to cater for certain critical areas. Among the areas they wanted funded include additional Sh 50 million for PSC, Sh30 million for Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, Sh70 million for general operations, Sh550 million constituency offices, Sh445 million for facilitation of drivers and security for members, Sh50 million for facelift of parliament Sh50 million for replacement of continental house lifts, and Sh250 million for legislative committees.