Speaker Wetangula Bans Hotel Meetings For MPs, Eliminates Confidential Budget
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has ordered that all committee meetings be held within Parliament’s precincts as part of the government’s austerity measures to reflect the current state of affairs.
In a communication to the House on Friday, Wetangula stated that if the meeting rooms are inadequate, the sittings can be held in other government facilities rather than luxurious hotels, as is customary.
The speaker acknowledged receipt of the National Treasury’s Supplementary Estimates for the Fiscal Year 2024/25, which will seek to rationalise the Ksh.3.9 trillion budget and implement budget cuts across the three branches of government.
The National Assembly is set to commence consideration of the Supplementary Estimates (No.1) for the Financial Year 2024/2025 (Recurrent & Development) and the revised Programme Based Budget. (1) pic.twitter.com/LG1ED3oImR
— National Assembly KE (@NAssemblyKE) July 13, 2024
Wetangula made the communication in accordance with National Assembly Standing Orders, which require a speaker to transmit any message received from the Executive while the members are on recess.
He directed the Budget and Appropriations Committee to oversee the process, solicit public feedback, and report to the House by Wednesday, July 24.
This will allow the House to consider the Supplementary Estimates and the legislation required to implement the proposed expenditure cuts.
Wetangula also directed Samuel Njoroge, the National Assembly clerk, to distribute the notification to all MPs, publish the Supplementary Estimates on the parliamentary website, assist the relevant committees in reviewing the estimates, and ensure that the sittings are held in Parliament.
President William Ruto’s administration has come under fire over the last month, with Kenyans demanding that public spending be reduced to reflect the status quo.
Government officials were also accused of living lavishly at a time when the general public was struggling to keep up with rising living costs.
He also implemented other austerity measures to reduce spending, such as eliminating the First and Second Lady’s offices from the budget, reducing the number of advisors in government by half, and dissolving 47 state corporations with overlapping functions.
He also announced the elimination of confidential budgets in executive offices and a 50% reduction in government renovation budgets.
Speaker Wetangula Bans Hotel Meetings For MPs, Eliminates Confidential Budget
