Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1157636,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1157636/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 16,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "called upon to adjust certain timelines in the budget-making cycle. Those who served in the 11th Parliament may recall that during the last session of that Parliament, the National Assembly adjusted its Calendar for the election year to allow certain steps in the budget cycle to be concluded before adjourning sine die. It may be recalled that at that time, the House adjusted the timelines and permitted the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning to make public pronouncement of the budget highlights for the Financial Year 2017/2018 on 30th March 2017. This was also intended to synchronise the 'Budget Speech' as it was previously known, days for the East African Community (EAC) Member States. Hon. Members, you are aware that the country will hold the General Elections on 9th August 2022. That being the case, political parties have already scheduled their primaries from 9th April 2022 in line with statutory timelines gazetted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Further, the House is due to proceed on a long recess from Friday, 15th April to Monday, 9th May 2022 and thereafter adjourn sine die on Thursday, 14th June 2022. These election-related circumstances are obviously disruptive to the budget timelines that would ordinarily have been observed in an ordinary year. It is instructive to note that as per the Calendar of the House, the date of 30th April when the Cabinet Secretary is expected to submit the Estimates to this House falls within the recess period. In this regard, if no adjustment is made in order for the Estimates to be submitted before the House goes on recess next week, the House would have breached the practice. Hon. Members, given the circumstances and noting that the Division of Revenue Bill has since been passed and is due for assent, it has become necessary to adjust the sequence of the budget process, particularly with respect to submission of the Estimates and public pronouncement of the budget highlights and proposed revenue raising measures for the Financial Year 2022/2023. In this regard, I will allow the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to make the public pronouncement of budget highlights and revenue-raising measures for the 2022/23 Financial Year this Thursday, 7th April 2022, in the National Assembly Chamber not later than 3.30 p.m. Thereafter, the Cabinet Secretary shall submit to the House the Estimates, the Finance Bill, 2022 and any other attendant regulations for consideration by the House. I hasten to clarify that the foregoing adjustment does not in any case offend the provisions of the Constitution or the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. In any case, the practice of requiring the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to make public pronouncement of the budget highlights and revenue-raising measures to the House is a creation of this House through Standing Order No.244C, which was made in furtherance to Section 40 of the PFM Act, 2012. With respect to the remaining steps, it shall be the responsibility of the House to consider and pass the Estimates, the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill, well before adjourning sine die in June 2022. To this end, I direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to make necessary arrangements in order to facilitate the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning to discharge his duties with respect to pronouncement of the budget highlights and revenue-raising measures for the 2022/2023 Financial Year in accordance with Section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and Standing Order No.224C. The House is accordingly guided."
}