National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, SC, has urged legislators to align budgetary decisions with underlying policy priorities to ensure meaningful public impact.

Speaking when he officially opened the four-day retreat for Members of the National Assembly in Nakuru County, Speaker Wetang’ula said careful consideration of budget estimates is essential if Parliament is to meet public expectations.

“You possess the power of the purse, and you should place great emphasis on the Estimates and numerical adjustments to the budget during the budget-making process in order to give priority to the underlying policy considerations that directly correspond to the estimates and figures,” the Speaker said.

The retreat is being held under the theme “Securing Parliamentary Legacy: Delivering the Fifth Session’s Agenda and Preparing for Transition”.

The Speaker cautioned Members against realigning budgets during review stages and emphasised the need to maintain coherence between policy and expenditure.

“Members’ attention ought to be given to the underlying policy considerations that directly correspond to the Estimates and figures. There is a need for balance between the two,” he said.

Speaker Wetang’ula urged legislators to assess the implications of their decisions while noting that some expenditure allocations serve as counterpart funding for critical projects.

“Reducing such allocations may result in unintended adverse consequences, including the loss of development funding for the projects,” he warned.

On audit oversight, the Speaker reiterated his guidance to the Public Accounts Committee and the three Parliamentary Investment Committees to conclude their work within constitutional timelines.

“In the matter of audit committees, the constitutional timeline under Article 229 for consideration and decision-making on the report of the Auditor-General is three months from the tabling of the report in Parliament,” he said.

The Speaker further cautioned against excessive scrutiny of institutions with no audit concerns.

“We must not insist on examining the accounts of every village secondary school and nondescript TVET institutions in the country when the record is explicit that there is no audit issue raised in respect of their finances,” he noted.

And added: “Some of these institutions have very modest budgets yet we deploy highly disproportionate resources to the examination of their audit reports.”

Speaker Wetang’ula said the National Assembly will continue to engage other institutions in a respectful and consultative manner anchored in the Constitution.

Turning to the political climate, he observed that the country is experiencing heightened political activity and urged Members to refocus on their constitutional mandate.

“We remind ourselves of our enduring constitutional responsibility to legislate, to oversee and to represent the people of Kenya with dignity and purpose,” he said.

“As political temperatures rise, positions harden, and competition intensifies,” the Speaker added.

He noted that the retreat comes at a defining moment, approximately 17 months before the next General Election, and stressed the importance of national preparedness.

“The preparedness of the nation for the forthcoming elections is a matter of national interest,” he said.

The Speaker, however, cautioned Members to exercise this role without creating perceptions of undue pressure.

On compliance with the law, Speaker Wetang’ula revealed that about 60 per cent of Members have submitted their wealth declaration forms.

“Failure to comply with this law attracts penal consequences,” he warned even as he cited the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025.

He noted that Sections 31 and 34 require all state and public officers to declare their income, assets and liabilities regularly and in a timely manner.

The Speaker said sessions on pensions, Members’ facilities, security and transition planning reflect Parliament’s commitment to dignified public service.

“These sessions reflect our recognition that public service must be dignified both during and after tenure,” he said.

Reflecting on the previous session, the Speaker noted its low moments, particularly the loss of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

“Agwambo, as he was fondly referred to, was a towering figure in Kenya’s political history whose life was devoted to public service, unity, and the advancement of our nation,” he said.

“His leadership, courage, and commitment to democratic ideals earned him admiration across generations and across party lines,” Speaker Wetang’ula added.

He further noted that the House mourned the loss of five sitting Members of Parliament, nine former MPs, and several members of staff.

The Speaker then called on Members to refocus on core Parliamentary priorities.

“Members must devote significant attention to economic oversight, budgetary processes, and governance reforms,” he said.