MPs call for tabling of country’s debt report

The National Assembly Budget and Appropriation Committee is next week set to table the budget policy statement to allow for the conclusion of the budget-making process by April 30, ahead of the dissolution of the House.

Members of Parliament had raised concerns over priorities in the estimates amid Kenya’s skyrocketing debt.

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale who wants the document tabled alongside the country’s debt report argued that the government must prioritize the interests of the common man in the 2022-2023 budget planning.

He further called for the report to be published on parliament website so that Kenyans can access it.

His sentiments were echoed by a section of MPs who want a bill by Nambale MP Sakwa Bunyasi that seeks to establish the Public Debt Management Authority as an independent agency to manage Kenya’s loans tabled.

Currently, the public debt is run as one of the directorates under the National Treasury and is headed by a director general who reports to the Treasury Principal Secretary.

Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS), Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) are calling for an increase budgetary allocation in the financial year 2022 2033 to enhance their mandate during the electioneering period.

In a session with the National Assembly administration and security committee, the PSC seeks an extra 1.8 Billion shillings while IPOA wants 667 million more.

At the same time, MPs have endorsed a report by the Departmental Committee on delegated legislation that opposed amendments to the public finance management act to consolidate kitties under the Biashara Fund.

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