MPs are this afternoon expected to discuss amendments to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, which aims to remove spending ceilings imposed on county assemblies by the Senate.
The Senate passed the caps on expenditure by county assemblies that were recommended by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) but MPs feel the caveats interfere with the management of finances.
The National Assembly wants to delete clause 12 of the Bill, whose implication would be to do away with a requirement that the CRA sets caps on spending by county assemblies.
The changes had been introduced by the Senate through the Public Finance Management Act, causing a storm among MPs who viewed it as an attempt at overrunning their mandate. MPs are against proposals that give the CRA a role in setting ceilings on county expenditure.
"We are concerned this particular amendment is coming to us through legislative ambush. It would have been helpful if the amendments were introduced through a separate Bill to enable both Houses to contribute. It is important in future that we don't amend the Public Finance Management Act through a Bill," said Budget Committee Chairman Mutava Musyimi.
Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel Chepkonga is expected to move the amendment, which if passed could once again underscore the uneasy relationship that has defined the two Houses, especially on matters touching on management of counties.
He denied that the National Assembly, by seeking to delete the clause introduced by the Senate, was effectively giving counties a blank cheque in spending on non-priority areas, especially on operation costs, as claimed by Senate Budget and Appropriations committee.
But in an indicator of the divisions that could emerge within the House when the amendment is brought, Suba MP John Mbadi feels the attempt to introduce the amendments could be aimed at emasculating the CRA in carrying out its constitutional role.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen is among the senators supporting the National Assembly in its attempt to claw back the amendments introduced by the Senate. MPs are this morning expected to hold an informal meeting where the issue is expected to feature.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join