National Assembly resumes after recess with Finance Bill, budget on top agenda

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] The National Assembly has resumed its sittings after a three-week recess. Speaker Moses Wetangula, at a press conference on Monday, July 22, said the Finance Bill 2024, which President Ruto declined to sign, would be a central topic in the House. "The President sent back the Finance Bill 2024 with a memorandum, rejecting all its clauses. Under our Standing Orders, any member who wishes to overturn this memorandum must secure a two-thirds majority in the House. We will place the memorandum before the House for consideration," he said. Wetangula added that there is no legal provision requiring the Bill to be operational within 14 days of its rejection. "It is not true, and we have no legal or constitutional basis for such a claim," he said. At the same time, the government has introduced a supplementary budget as part of ongoing austerity measures. The supplementary budget was forwarded to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which has been holding sector hearings expected to conclude by Tuesday, July 22. "The report on the supplementary budget will also be presented on the floor of the House," noted Wetangula. The Division of Revenue Bill is also on the Order Paper, with Wetangula saying, "Given the shrinking fiscal space, the President has indicated that both levels of government must accept reductions in their revenue allocations." President Ruto rejected the Finance Bill 2024 following widespread protests. In a televised address on June 26, Ruto expressed his gratitude to the MPs who voted for the amended Bill. However, he acknowledged public dissent, stating, "Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede, and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn." Ruto also announced immediate austerity measures across government departments, starting with the Office of the President. The measures, he announced, would include cuts to operational expenses, travel, hospitality, vehicle purchases, and renovations. "Working with the Treasury, we will undertake budget cuts and austerity measures to ensure we live within our means, respecting the clear message from the people of Kenya," said Ruto.

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National Assembly resumes after recess with Finance Bill, budget on top agenda

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