Kenya's National Assembly is set to resume from the long recess today, Tuesday, February 14, 2023, to a busy Second Session of the 13th Parliament.
The session is set to benefit from the strengthened and enhanced knowledge on parliamentary practices and procedures imparted to the lawmakers during the recent Induction of House Committees and the Post-Election Seminar co-hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in Mombasa, Kenya, two weeks ago.
The top priority agenda will be the consideration of the 2023 Budget Policy Statement and the Debt Management Strategy 2023, both of which have a 14-day approval window.
The consideration of Supplementary Budget Estimates for FY2022/23 by the House will also feature among top businesses for the House.
Upon the resumption of Sittings, the House will also be expected to consider and approve the Calendar for the Second Session 2023(Regular Sittings); the membership of the House Business Committee, Committee of Parliamentary Powers and Privileges, and that of the Select Committee on Members Services and Facilities.
Two new Members of the National Assembly are also set to be sworn in. Newly-elected Member for Garissa Township, Dekow Barrow Mohamed and his Kandara counterpart, Chege Njuguna, who were both elected on United Democratic Movement (UDA) party tickets in the just concluded by-elections held last month.
They replace Hon. Aden Duale and Hon. Alice Wahome, respectively, who were appointed to the Cabinet.
The House is also expected to consider and debate the Presidential Memorandum to Parliament proposing three key constitutional amendments.
President Dr. William Ruto, in a memo dated December 9, 2022, had urged Parliament to consider the amendments, including a proposal on the law on the two-third gender principle to pave the way for implementing the two-thirds gender rule.
The other proposal is amending chapter 9 of the Constitution to create an office of the Official Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The president had noted that this move would institutionalize governance, strengthen oversight and deepen democracy.
Through its relevant committees, the House is also expected to conduct vetting and approval hearings of various Presidential nominees to state and public offices, among them the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Kenya.
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