Full 'in-tray' as Senate resumes for final session

Jubilee majority leader Kithure Kindiki during a press conference. (Photo: Jennifer Wachie/Standard)

The Senate has resumed its sittings for the final session of its term with a full in-tray, which includes a push by governors to ensure counties are properly resourced.

Among the businesses lined up for this session that ends in June are over 20 bills that directly concern counties. They include Division of Revenue Bill, the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, the Kenya Roads Bill, Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, the County Boundaries Bill and the County Government (Amendment) Bill.

Others are the Physical Planning Bill, the Public Participation Bill, County Pensions Scheme Bill, the Land Value Index  (Amendment) Bill and the Intergovernmental Relations (Amendment) Bill among others.

The proposal by the National Treasury to slash the allocation to counties in the Division of Revenue (DoR) Bill from Sh331 billion to Sh291 billion, might rekindle the sibling rivals in the bi-cameral House.

But of urgency to the House leadership, according to Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (above), is to find a lasting solution to the health crisis occasioned by the doctors’ strike.

“We are going to prioritise county Bills. The agenda of this House is to ensure our term ends after we have dispensed all pending businesses before us,” assured Prof Kindiki.

He said the House will adjourn for the campaigns in June.

The senator said bills related to devolution like the Kenya Roads Bill, which resulted in a huge standoff last year in regards to classification and sharing functions and resources, will be fast tracked.

“We will proceed on recess next month to allow for party primaries and around June indefinitely ahead of the August 8th polls, though the members will continue in office until after election,” he explained.