MPs return from recess to deal with array of proposals

After a one-monh recess, the National Assembly is scheduled to resume its sittings on Tuesday and MPs will find a full in-tray.
Among the items on their agenda is a plan to entrench the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) in the Constitution as lawmakers seek to end legal hurdles that have dogged it for years.
The House is also expected reconstitute committees and deal with the thorny issue of the working relationship between the government and lawmakers after President William Ruto formed his broad-based government that includes leaders from the opposition.
Also is focus is continuing absenteeism among members on committees and the plenary, the budget-making process once the National Treasury tables the Budget Policy Statement and the Debt Management Strategy Paper.
More than 200 legislative proposals are also pending before departmental committees and will need to be dispensed with.
But MPs’ biggest acid test is filling vacancies on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and addressing challenges with the Social Health Authority’s (SHA) new insurance programme, whose implementation has been chaotic and confusing for the public.
During the last session, which ran from February 2024 to December, some 17 of the 49 bills introduced were signed into law, including the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Act, 2024, Water (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Sugar Act, 2022.
MPs recently held their mid-term retreat in Naivasha. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula expressed concerns about persistent absenteeism among MPs during committee sittings, citing lack of quorum as a major impediment to House business.
Committees, he noted, were engines of parliamentary proceedings and members were urged to give greater priority to the activities.
He said: “Your duty as an MP is not just to create quorum for committee meetings but to actively participate in the proceedings in line with laid-down requirements.
“Attend meetings promptly to give your chairperson and the secretariat ample time to focus on how to tackle matters before the committee and not make calls to MPs seeking quorums.”
Positive impact
The reconvening of the House comes as MPs are considering amending the Constitution to entrench NG-CDF and save it from collapsing after courts declared it unconstitutional.
Besides NG-CDF, lawmakers also want the Senate Oversight Fund and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) entrenched in the Constitution.
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge has previously said the NG-CDF needed to be saved, arguing that it has had a positive impact on the lives of Kenyans, including paying school fees for needy children.
He said: “The NG-CDF Bill, the Senate Oversight Fund Bill and the NGAAF bill are some of the priority bills that will be introduced to entrench them in the Constitution.
“This is also part of the bills to implement the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report approved by both Houses of Parliament.”
MPs have already set in motion the process of safeguarding the programmes.
Ahead of the recent recess, Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga and his Rarieda counterpart Otiende Amollo came up with a proposal to amend the Constitution through a parliamentary initiative, as provided for under Article 256.
This will be the third attempt by MPs to amend the Constitution in order to protect NG-CDF. In the 12th Parliament, Matungulu MP Stephen Mule and his Gichugu counterpart Githinji Gichimu co-sponsored a similar proposal but the House did not fully consider it.
No visists
Also, in 2022, the House established a joint parliamentary ad hoc committee to consider a proposal to amend the Constitution to protect NG-CDF. The term of the committee elapsed before it submitted its report.
On the budget-making process, MPs will receive the Budget Policy Statement before February 15. It must be be approved by February 28 before lawmakers embark on related proceedings, including consolidating the draft budget estimates.
Regarding the reconstitution of House committees, members will be sought for 18 panels whose terms ended last year.
Wetangula directed that the process be fair and inclusive, telling lawmakers to desist from visiting his office to try to influence selection decisions and reminding them that that the work will be carried out by the majority and minority leaders.
Said Wetangula: “You know none of you can be denied membership of at least one or two committees. The work is going to be done by your leadership. Please, don’t visit the office of the Speaker and ask him to help [you] be placed in any committee, because he has no such capacity.”
Reorganising House committees is likely to see some allies of ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua removed, after a similar attempt in December failed following alleged intervention from President William Ruto.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah said committee selections will reflect lawmakers’ capacities, expertise and abilities.
“We are currently working on their replacements and will communicate the [outcome] at the appropriate time so that we fill the gaps that are available as well as leave some positions for members who will be joining us after the by-elections,” he said.
Before MPs went on recess, among the lawmakers targeted were Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Gatanga’s Edward Muriu and Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina, who are members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.