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The vetting of President William Ruto’s nominated  Cabinet Secretaries and consideration of the 2024/2025 supplementary budget estimates are the key priority areas that lawmakers will consider when they resume house sittings tomorrow.

The supplementary budget proposes cuts for various ministries, departments and agencies.

Lawmakers resume sittings after a three-week break that was prompted by the storming of Parliament by a group of young people after MPs passed the controversial 2024 Finance Bill, which has since been withdrawn.

The return of MPs on Tuesday will happen on the same day planners of anti-government protests have vowed to shut down Nairobi.

It will be interesting to see how Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, a close ally of President William Ruto, will steer this session of the House in the wake of nationwide protests against the Kenya Kwanza government.

No public confidence

MPs return at a time when there are calls from Generation Z for Parliament to be dissolved over lack of public confidence, only days after the same group successfully pushed Ruto to fire all the Cabinet secretaries.

Said Wetang’ula immediately after Parliament was invaded by protesters: “I stand before you with a heavy heart and it is my solemn duty to address the gravity of what has occurred.

“The sanctity of Parliament has been violated, lives have been needlessly lost and the foundation of our democracy has been tested in ways we never imagined.”

Lawmakers also resume sittings as the Parliamentary Service Commission, chaired by Wetang’ula, is assessing the damage that occurred after young protesters stormed the House, damaging it and putting it out business.

Already, Wetang’ula has restricted movement in and out of Parliament, allowing only MPs and critical staff to enter as renovations continue.

Sections vandalised

Among sections of the House that were vandalised were its three-star restaurant, the Senate wing, the evenly spaced masts that carry 22 flags at the Jomo Kenyatta Mausoleum and the office of the National Assembly minority leader, located on the new wing of Parliament.

Said Wetang’ula after the attack on Parliament:

 “The gory images of wanton destruction and the desecration of Parliament Square by those masquerading as peaceful protesters are highly regrettable.”

During the MPs’ recess, Wetang’ula issued several directives, telling MPs to consider key priority areas such as considering the supplementary budget.

Following the directives, various House committees last week held meetings with heads of government agencies, culminating in meetings with the Budget and Appropriations Committee, as it is supposed to table a report to the House for consideration.

Once lawmakers consider and pass the estimates, focus will then shift to considering the Appropriations Bill 2024, which seeks to share money among government agencies; the Division of Revenue Bill, on dividing revenue raised nationally between the national government and counties; and the County Allocation Bill 2024 on dividing money among the 47 counties.

IEBC selection panel

They will also consider nominees for the selection panel that will recruit commissioners of the electoral agency IEBC.Nominating entities have 14 days to submit their names by today.

Meanwhile, the vetting of CS nominees, to be conducted by the Committee on Appointments, whioch is chaired by the Speaker, is expected to start its work on July 29, once the President submits the nominees’ names to the Speaker.

On Friday last week, Ruto named 11 individuals to his new Cabinet, with six ex-ministers re-nominated.