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{
    "id": 980458,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980458/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 69,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1835,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
        "slug": "anthony-kimani-ichungwah"
    },
    "content": "well as departmental committees. This key document gives an overview of broad strategic priorities and policy goals that will guide both the national and county governments in the upcoming budget preparation processes this year. Hon. Speaker, the BAC has identified weak links between previous Budget Policy Statements and the Annual Estimates. Weak policies in the Budget Policy Statements have led to weak expenditure prioritisation, regular revisions of annual budgets through the Supplementary Budget — that we consider and approve — and delay in the implementation of key Government development projects. This has resulted in less credible budgets that effectively and efficiently tackle pertinent issues that affect our country. In this regard, the Legislature, being one of the institutions that play a pivotal role in the national budget process from the time the BPS is submitted for approval, is expected to review the policy document and identify strengths and weaknesses of the proposed policies taking into account issues such as rising unemployment — especially amongst our youth — and the huge public debt that afflicts our country. Hon. Speaker, it is increasingly apparent that there is need for both the Executive and Legislature to have adequate consultations on issues relevant to the budget, so as to prevent divergent views as witnessed in previous years. The BAC has, therefore, organised a pre-budget conference and is inviting chairpersons and vice chairpersons of departmental committees as well as key stakeholders such as the National Treasury, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kenya Public Policy Research and Analysis Institute (KIPPRA) among others. The purpose of the conference is to engage them on pertinent issues and to have a common understanding of crucial economic policies and budgetary issues as contained in the BPS that was tabled in this House last week. Hon. Speaker, as I conclude, I urge the departmental committees, through their chairs, to adhere to the short timelines provided for processing of the BPS. The BAC expects to receive the submissions from departmental committees by the 25th February 2020, which is next week on Tuesday. This will facilitate the tabling of the BAC report on the 2020 BPS by Tuesday 3rdMarch 2020. The Parliamentary Budget Office will be circulating the program to guide departmental committees. I urge the House to support that office in this endeavour. In this statement, we have attached a programme of the BPS processing timelines. I can see a number of Chairs in the House, including that of the Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Hon Wario. It is important that Members consider the very limited time we have. Our own procedure gives us 14 days only. There has been talk about that. It is a challenge we need to take up this year, as a House, and possibly review the Public Finance Management Act in order to create more time. If we can provide for mid-March, say, between 15thand 20th March every year, then we would have created adequate time to consider the BPS. Now that our statutes allow us 14 days only after the tabling of the Statement, that limited time only allows us this week. I have seen a number of committees meeting relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The committees will be appearing before the BAC starting Tuesday. Hon. Speaker, we will be seeking permission from your office to continue on Wednesday and hopefully on Thursday morning, in order for us to meet with the Judiciary, Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), and the Auditor-General. That will enable us to retreat on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to finalise our report. We will then seek to table it the following week on 3rd March 2020. I, therefore, wish to plead with chairs and vice-chairs to be available this weekend. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}