National Assembly amends House standing orders

BY LUSEKELO PHILEMON

11th April 2013

  Budget now estimates to be discussed prior to approval

Job Ndugai

Bunge has taken its constitutional role as the government’s watchdog and went on to amend some of its standing orders in an effort to sharpen its ‘teeth’ and affect its bite.

Moving a parliamentary motion on the amendment of parliamentary standing orders, Job Ndugai, the National Assembly, deputy speaker, said the move is meant to ensure the house plays its role.

The amendments were made in line with, section 152 of the parliamentary standing orders. So now the government budget estimates will be discussed ahead of approving the fiscal budget.
“This will give enough time for MPs to extensively digest the budget before endorsing it for implementation …,” Ndugai said, adding that the new schedule of budget processes will also give ample time for the government to implement developmental projects such as road infrastructures within the projected time.

The Kongwa MP said the process also empowers Parliamentary Committees to inspect those projects before discussing the implementation reports of every ministry at the end of a financial year.

Under the new arrangement, parliamentary committees are to sit between October and November every year, instead of February.
The budget meeting is to start as early as April every year and end before June 30, every year.

According to the amended standing orders, government is to starts implementing the fiscal budget by July 1, soon after the start of the new financial year.

“The idea is to make the government implement all planned projects…,” Ndugai explained.
“Before amending the standing order we used to debate an approved budget, something that makes MPs uncertain as they weren’t sure whether their views and comments were included in the budget … but this time around our Parliament stands at its position....” he said.

He further underscored the importance of time management for MPs, whereby under the amended standing orders, an MP is supposed to contribute for only 10minutes.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN