Rotich pleads with MPs to postpone break

Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury Henry Rotich.

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

Kenya: Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury Henry Rotich has asked MPs to postpone their Christmas break until they approve the supplementary budget.

Mr Rotich pleaded with MPs to give him until Thursday to finalise the preparation of a Sh121 billion supplementary budget. He told the MPs that while the amount looked colossal, the Treasury would ensure that money was raised without burdening the taxpayer or freezing key projects.

Rotich told the Budget and Appropriations Committee at a meeting in Parliament buildings that because the recess will go on until February, the Treasury was willing to meet the MPs so that they deal with the supplementary budget, because come February 15, Treasury will be engrossed in preparation of the Budget Policy Statement.

“You may want to consider postponing your recess so that we conclude this process,” said Rotich yesterday.

The Constitution sets February 15 as the last day by which the National Treasury ought to have submitted the Budget Policy Statement — a three year forecast of the economy, and the budgets.

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In March, the committee is expected to approve the Budget Policy Statement and by April 30, the two Houses — Senate and National Assembly — have to approve the Division of Revenue Bill and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. By June 30, the House has to approve the national budget and give a greenlight for the government to spend money.

“We’re hoping that because of the workload earlier in the year, you could dispose of the supplementary budget before you go on recess,” said Rotich.

The chairman of the Budget Committee, Mutava Musyimi (Mbeere South), said a decision on whether to postpone recess can only be taken by the Speaker Justin Muturi and the Majority Leader Adan Duale, and that such a decision will have to be approved by the House Business Committee.

The MPs were scheduled to go on recess on December 5.

The Cabinet Secretary also told the committee that the Sh18.9 billion that had been agreed for teachers, nurses and university lecturers will also be included in the Supplementary Budget.