The National Assembly Committees are currently engaged in consultative forums with different stakeholders to deliberate on the first Supplementary Budget Estimates for the  Financial Year ending June 30, 2023. The meetings which commenced last week have seen top government officials appear before Parliamentary Committees to review the Supplementary Estimates for their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Targeted at realigning the Budget with President (Dr.) William Ruto’s Kshs. 300 billion austerity measures, the Supplementary Estimates which must be approved by Parliament also seek to reallocate funds to priority areas to enable the effective implementation of the government agenda.  

In the past one week, the Budget and Appropriations Committee and Departmental Committees have been reviewing the Supplementary Estimates in consultation with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies and are expected to table their reports in the House for consideration by the end of this week.

On Tuesday, Mr. Salim Mvurya the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs appeared before MPs, where he pleaded with them to consider increasing the budget of his ministry by Sh1 billion. 

In a meeting with the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation that is chaired by Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East) ,CS Mvurya, said the ministry would be greatly affected by budgetary cuts.  

While defending his proposal, Mr. Mvurya revealed that the docket he heads is facing challenges with regard to office accommodation for its staff, who are scattered across Kilimo House, Maji House, Museum and in the Public Works Building, among other issues.

Earlier in the day, Members of the National Assembly's Public Debt and Privatization Committee chaired by Hon. Abdi Shurie (Balambala) had a sitting with the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya Dr. Patrick Njoroge, and the Controller of Budget, Dr. Margaret Nyakang'o, over the Consolidated Fund Services Expenditure for Supplementary Budget 1, for the current fiscal year.

At the session, the CBK boss gave a detailed presentation to the MPs on public debt, revenue and the general economy.

 Dr. Nyakang'o, also presented a report on the withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund relating to Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) which include public debt, pensions and gratuities, salaries and allowances.

On Monday, Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u the CS in-charge of the National Treasury and Economic Planning and the Auditor-General, Ms. Nancy Gathungu, separately appeared before the Public Debt and Privatization Committee.

The Auditor-General who was first to appear before the newly-introduced watchdog Committee, expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for the continued partnership on matters government expenditure. 

While making his submissions before the Hon. Shurie (Balambala) -led Parliamentary House team, CS Prof Njoroge expressed optimism that the country would realise good benefits in the foreseeable future.

The consultative engagements are expected to continue for the better part of the week. At the same time, the House which resumed plenary sittings yesterday has commenced the consideration of the  Budget Policy Statement  2023/2024 , and the Debt Management Strategy both of which have a 14-day approval window.