- Lawmakers will speak to both the contents of the Bill itself and the recommendations by the Finance and Planning committee.
- MPs wishing to move amendments to the Bill must submit them for approval by the speaker's office latest 1pm Thursday.
Image: FILE
MPs on Wednesday morning started debate on the Finance Bill, 2024, which spells out a raft of revenue-raising measures for President William Ruto’s administration.
The Order Paper, a statutory document detailing the business of the House, shows that MPs will have the whole Wednesday morning and afternoon debating the Bill until 9:30 pm.
During the debate, technically known as the Second Reading, MPs will air their views and make oral submissions about what they make of the contents of the taxation measures.
They will also speak to both the contents of the Bill itself and the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning after the government dropped some taxes.
Finance and Planning Committee chairperson Kuria Kimani (Molo) moved the Bill for the Second Reading on Wednesday morning after he tabled it on Tuesday afternoon.
It is not until the Bill is moved to the Third Reading that MPs make legislative proposals to amend sections of the Bill in line with their suggestions.
To sail through, an amendment must be supported by a simple majority during the Committee of the Whole.
The amendments are transacted through the committee of the whole, where the house goes through every clause and determines the fate of each proposed amendment.
On Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula asked the MPs to read the bill and committee report to make informed debate.
The committee report provides direction on various proposed amendments by the government side while the Bill lays the ground for taxation measures.
In their sitting on Tuesday, the lawmakers approved a procedural motion to hold an extra sitting on Thursday beginning at 9 am.
The MPs also approved the extension of Wednesday afternoon sittings until 9:30 pm to allow as many as possible to contribute to the debate on the Bill.
The House normally rises at exactly 6:30 pm unless a majority of the MPs approve an extension.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw'ah moved the motion after approval by the House Business Committee.
"This Mr speaker will allow members an opportunity to debate the Finance Bill, 2024 considering that many members are interested in contributing to the debate," Ichung'wah said as he moved the motion.
The motion was backed by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi who said the decision was sound as it would allow MPs more time to contribute to the Bill.
"It was seized on the House Business Committee that we allocate enough sitting days for members to contribute effectively and for their constituents to get to know where they stand on this matter," he said.
Wetang'ula ruled that MPs will vote on the Bill during the Second Reading on Thursday afternoon.
"The House Business Committee has directed that we will then vote on that Bill on Thursday afternoon," the speaker directed.
Wetang'ula also ruled that the Third Reading of the Bill will take place on Tuesday, June 25, to allow MPs an opportunity to make the ultimate decision.
"The committee of the Whole House on the same Bill will come in Tuesday afternoon, those of you who want to file amendments do so after reading the report," Wetang'ula said.
According to the National Assembly House calendar, MPs do not sit on Thursday morning unless approved through a motion by the concurrence of the House.
"I have directed the clerk that the closure for submitting amendments will be on Thursday at 1 pm," the speaker directed.
"Thereafter you will be time-barred.''