MPs to face budget, IEBC commissioners vetting as committee changes as recess ends

The National Assembly will resume this afternoon for the fourth session of the thirteen assembly after a two-month recess with members of Parliament expected to handle several agendas that are packed.

They include the budget policy statement, reconstitution of the committee, and the vetting of new IEBC commissioners.

The lawmakers are also expected to consider a Joint report by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs and the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights on the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Report.

This report, alongside the recommendations from the Multi-Sectoral Working Group on the two-thirds gender principle, is expected to shape discussions on governance and electoral reforms.

The Assembly is also set to focus on the Public Audit (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the Public Audit Act, 2015, with constitutional requirements following a court ruling.

Other bills lined up for debate include the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024—both emerging from NADCO deliberations.

The reconstitution of 18 National Assembly committees, whose term expires today, remains uncertain following a High Court ruling that declared Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition as the majority in the House, overturning Kenya Kwanza’s dominance.

This ruling affects the Committee on Selection, which nominates members to serve on various committees.

The committee is chaired by the Majority Leader and deputized by the Minority Leader.

The ruling is expected to shape parliamentary proceedings, particularly in committee leadership, as oversight and audit committees are designated to the majority, while department and standing committees are controlled by the ruling coalition.

Another major issue on the National Assembly’s schedule is the vetting of nominees for appointment to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Once the Selection Panel concludes its recruitment exercise, the National Assembly will vet six commissioners and a chairperson.

The president will pick the chair from a list of two candidates and select six commissioners from a list of nine.