The National Assembly is set to resume sittings on Tuesday next week, after a month’s hiatus, with the Consideration of the 2018/2019 Budget, forming the top of the House agenda. The House is expected to have its tray full with the debate on the State of the Nation Address, which took place just before the House went on recess, set to kick-start the plenary proceedings as provided for by the Standing Orders.

Simultaneously, the business of the House will for three (3) sitting days be characterized by general debate on the estimates for the Financial Year 2018/2019, which will be heralded by the tabling of a Report by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, as soon as the House resumes.

Consequently, in what has now become custom since the inception of the 11th Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary in the National Treasury Mr. Henry Rotich, is expected to highlight his revenue raising measures in the Financial Year 2018/2019 to the National Assembly on June 14th, 2018. This is set to be followed by the review of the Appropriation Bill, 2018, and Consolidation Bill, 2018 (if any) on June 26 and 27, 2018; with the Finance Bill, 2018, expected to be enacted by 28th September 2018. The bills are requisite as they pave the way for the government to effect is revenue raising measures and give approval for the government to spend monies as envisaged in the approved budget. 

The Cabinet Secretary last presented his budget statement in March 2017 -three months earlier than usual, so as to provide funds that were be used to conduct the August General Election. Usually, the statement is read at the same time as those of other East African Community members’ states in June every year.

Among the priority bills for the House in the forthcoming 2nd part of the 2nd session, are the Energy Bill, the Petroleum Bill, the Tax Laws (amendment) Bill, 2018, and the County Pension Scheme Bill, 2017. The latter was a subject of debate at the just concluded 3rd Annual Legislative Summit, with appeals by the County Assemblies’ Forum for the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Bill highlighting the closing ceremony of event.

Debate is also set to resume on the Kenya Coast Guard Service Bill which is currently in the second reading, sixteen (16) bills are awaiting Second Reading, while four (4) bills are in 3rd Reading. The House is also scheduled to review three (3) bills emanating from the Senate, and whose consideration will be determined by the Speaker, who is set to pronounce his opinion pursuant to Standing Order 143.

The general status of the bills before the House is as follows:

    (i) Bills in Second Reading (1) (resumption of debate – interrupted on 26/4/2018)
        1) The Kenya Coast Guard Service Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 45 of 2017).

    (ii) Bills Awaiting Second Reading (16)

        1) The County Pension Scheme Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 49 of 2017);
        2) The Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 51 of 2017);
        3) The Public Private Partnerships (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 52 of 2017);
        4) The Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 1 of 2018);
        5) The Warehouse Receipt System Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 2 of 2018);
        6) The Land Value Index Laws (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2018);
        7) The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.4 of 2018);
        8) The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment)(No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 5 of 2018); 
        9) The Parliamentary Service Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 06 of 2018);
        10) The Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.8 of 2018);
        11) The Government Contracts Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 9 of 2018);
        12) The Government Retirement Scheme Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 10 of 2018);
        13) The Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.11 of 2018);
        14) The Health Laws (Amendment) Bill ( National Assembly Bill No.33 of 2018);
        15) The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.12 of 2018); and
        16) The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.13 of 2018).

    (iii) Bills In/Awaiting Committee of the Whole House/Third Reading (4)

        1) The Copyright (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.33 of 2017);
        2) The Building Surveyors Bill (National Assembly Bill No.35 of 2017);
        3) The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.48 of 2017); and
        4) The Energy Bill (National Assembly Bill No.50 of 2017).

    (iv) Senate Bills (3)

        1) The Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Bill (Sen. Bill No. 4 of 2017;
        2) The Warehouse Receipt System Bill (Amendment) Bill (Sen. Bill No. 10 of 2017; and 
        3) The County Governments (Amendment) Bill (Sen. Bill No. 11 of 2017.