Senators returned from a short recess on May 23, 2023, for Part Three of the Senate Calendar which will run until June 29, 2023.
During the period, it is expected that the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget will table a report on the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2023.
The passage of this Bill will be followed by the introduction of the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill and the respective cash disbursement schedules.
These are crucial financial instruments that by their nature allocate funds to county governments.
In addition, the passage of these instruments facilitates county governments to prepare their respective budgets in time for the next financial year that begins on July 1.
“I urge all Senators to be available in the Senate to consider and pass this legislative and financial instrument,” Speaker Amason Kingi said when he welcomed back senators.
Other business before the Senate includes 26 Bills, of which 21 are at the Second Reading stage; five are at the Committee of the Whole Stage; 15 Petitions are pending before Select Committees and 24 are pending Motions.
In addition, there are a number of questions and statements filed under the schedule in the Order Paper.
“I take this opportunity to urge standing committees to prioritise the processing of legislative business and table reports, as required by the Standing Orders,” Kingi said.
Just before senators proceeded on recess, they had started the implementation of the procedure on questions in the Senate.
Two sittings were held on April 26, 2023, and May 3, 2023, where Cabinet Secretaries appeared before the Senate to respond to questions.
Cabinet Secretaries for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Zachariah Njeru and Salim Mvurya of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs appeared before Senate pursuant to Standing Order 51A (5).
Five Cabinet Secretaries appeared before Senate on May 3 to respond to questions from lawmakers.
The five were Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads, Transport and Public Works), Peninah Malonza (Tourism), Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Zacharia Mwangi Njeru (Lands, Housing and Urban Development) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior).
One of the major decisions that the Senate Business Committee made is the requirement to have only three Cabinet Secretaries at any one sitting.
“This measure will ensure that there is adequate time for the Senate to interrogate the responses from Cabinet Secretaries,” Kingi said in his communication to the House.
During the recess, the Senate leadership held deliberations on the processing of legislative business and resolved to work harmoniously in the discharge of constitutional mandates.
Deliberations resolved that focus will be given to business scheduled in the Order Paper as the number of Bills and Motions are critical to the operations of county governments.
This is expected to sustain healthy and robust debate and the differing opinions and perspectives that will form amendments to Bills and impact Government policy.
On the other hand, and in accordance with the Communication issued before the Senate proceeded on recess, the Speaker will not hesitate to drop any business for which the respective senator is not available in the House.
These measures have been seen as necessary to ensure that the legislative agenda of the Senate remains on track.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is still on recess until June 4, 2021 at 2.30p.m, when the House will resume to continue with the First Part of the Session.