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February 16th, 2009
President Kibaki is under pressure to assent to a Bill that will give MPs a greater role in budget-making.
MPs Jamleck Kamau, Chris Okemo, Samuel Kazungu Kambi, Martin Ogindo, Musikari Kombo and David Were said in separate interviews that new House rules stipulate that Parliament participates in the drawing up and scrutiny of the annual estimates.
The calls follow former Kabete MP Paul Muite’s demand that Attorney General Amos Wako reveals whether he has presented the Fiscal Management Bill to the President and the date on which he did so.
“The Attorney General owes the country an explanation. If he delivered the Bill on time, then the President is violating the Constitution. If the AG has not delivered it, then he should tell Kenyans why,” he said.
Mr Kamau, the Kigumo MP, urged the President to sign the Bill so that MPs could put in place structures to discuss the budget.
Mr Okemo, the Nambale MP, said the President should urgently sign the Bill to encourage accountability.
The ODM MP, who chairs the parliamentary committee on finance, said the era when the government embraced estimates without MPs’ involvement was over.
“Involving Parliament in the budget-making process began with the new Standing Orders and Fiscal Analysis Committee,” he said.
Kaloleni MP Mr Kazungu Kambi said Parliament has been eagerly waiting for the President to sign the Bill.
“We passed the Bill last December and we wonder why the President has not given his assent.”
Give assent
Mr Kombo, a PNU nominated MP, said the Executive should demystify the budget-making process.
“We want all the mystery to be removed and a culture of transparency introduced,” he said.
The Constitution stipulates that once the House passes a Bill, the President has 21 days to give his assent. If he declines, he has 14 days to return the proposed law to Parliament with his amendments.
Mr Ogindo and Mr Were said if the Bill was not signed into law, it would be pointless to debate the budget, usually tabled in June.
source.nation.ke