Why won't Kibaki Sign the Budget Bill?

[genius]

It's interesting that the Bill that would have given Parliament power to have oversight over the Budget Making process was passed by parliament the same day as the Communications bill that was meant to gag the press.

Kibaki signed the bill to gag the press in record time. Why is he taking so long to sign the Fiscal Management Bill yet they were handed to him at the same time?

Or is he giving the silver spoon boy some leeway to steal more public funds using the budget. I fear that unless pressure is exerted, that bill will never be signed and we shall continue losing money to these thugs.

[politicalmaniac]

hmm Thanks for this update
The MKM want to control pesa and security for ever.

[kamalet]

I am surprised that anyone would want to give the Kenyan parliament any say in the management of this country - that house is so full of thieves and charlatans I could not let them care for my dog. After the events of the last week, I think Kibaki might just be right to deny them this one avenue!

[einstein]

Feb 13, 2009 22:01:06 GMT 3 kamalet said:

I am surprised that anyone would want to give the Kenyan parliament any say in the management of this country - that house is so full of thieves and charlatans I could not let them care for my dog. After the events of the last week, I think Kibaki might just be right to deny them this one avenue!

Kamale,

Don't sound so bitter about Thursday!

Parliament MUST be included in the budget making process. It is called The Doctrine Of Separation Of Powers tempered with The Doctrine Of Checks And Balances!!! This helps to keep some long fingers off the till!

You get where I'm coming from??

[politicalmaniac]

When a single person is in control, that when you get 50% of water funds going to Meru and nothing for the driest part pf Kenya NEP.
At least if parliament had a role, the robbery my the Mt kenya mafia would be a bit reduced. As it is today there is no transparency.

[kelly]

Feb 13, 2009 22:01:06 GMT 3 kamalet said:

I am surprised that anyone would want to give the Kenyan parliament any say in the management of this country - that house is so full of thieves and charlatans I could not let them care for my dog. After the events of the last week, I think Kibaki might just be right to deny them this one avenue!

Kamalet,

At least for once you made a joke. I thought you are always serious in your discussions. Yes, parliement is made of thieves and charlatans. Yes, again you conviniently forgot to mention the executive is the number one thief. Yes, you also forgot to mention that it was parliament that brought us CDF, that means democratic development (read stealing). Do you sincerely want Kibaki to be stealing alone? Let democracy prevail, wacha tuibe sote, at least in that case, the thieving cake is shared. Au vipi?

[kamalet]

Feb 14, 2009 3:18:08 GMT 3 kelly said:

Kamalet,

At least for once you made a joke. I thought you are always serious in your discussions. Yes, parliement is made of thieves and charlatans. Yes, again you conviniently forgot to mention the executive is the number one thief. Yes, you also forgot to mention that it was parliament that brought us CDF, that means democratic development (read stealing). Do you sincerely want Kibaki to be stealing alone? Let democracy prevail, wacha tuibe sote, at least in that case, the thieving cake is shared. Au vipi?

Kelly,

it is less funny when you then have to deal with two thieves. One I think I can manage!!!

[einstein]

Kibaki urged to sign law on Budget making


By Peter Opiyo

Parliament kept up pressure on President Kibaki to sign into law a Bill that seeks to wrestle control of Budget making from the Executive.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende asked Kibaki, who was the chief guest at an MPs’ workshop on the new Standing Orders at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, to sign into law the Bill passed by the House last December.

Marende’s plea came a day after Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo asked Kibaki in Parliament, last Thursday, to explain why he had not yet assented to the Fiscal Management Bill.

But Marende overruled him saying the President had attended the vote on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2009 as the MP for Othaya and not in his official capacity as the Head of State.

Marende said it was necessary the Bill be signed into law to conform to the new Standing Orders that require that Parliament’s Budget Committee participates in Budget making.

The Bill, passed together with the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, seeks to give Parliament more say in Budget making.

The law establishes a parliamentary Budget office.

[einstein]

Kibaki taken to task over Bill on MPs’ role in Budget


President Kibaki faced the fury of MPs over his failure to sign a crucial Bill that wrestles the control of the Executive from the Budget making process.

Martin Ogindo (Rangwe, ODM) wanted the President to explain why he was yet to sign the Fiscal Management Bill, which was passed by Parliament last December.

"Mr Speaker sir, since the President is here, I want him to explain why he is yet to sign the Bill into law," asked Ogindo, amid applause from the backbench.

The President, who was seated on the seat preserved for the Leader of Government Business was, during this time, gazing at the legislator.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende, however, ruled that Kibaki was in the chamber as the MP for Othaya and not in his capacity as President.

"The President has come here as the MP for Othaya. He has not come here to exercise his authority as the Head of State and that matter will stay that way," ruled Marende.

The Bill was passed last December, the same day the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill (now Act) was passed. Kibaki has signed the latter into law.

According to the Constitution, the President must append his signature to a Bill within 21 days after receipt from the Attorney General.

The Bill is the brainchild of Elias Mbau (Maragua, PNU) and seeks to have Parliament exert its control of the budget making process and stem Executive discretion over national resources and wealth distribution.

MPs have argued the Bill is long overdue, pointing out it accords Parliament the legal teeth to exert its oversight role over all public expenditure to ensure accountability.

Mooted about a decade ago by former Alego Usonga MP Peter Oloo Aringo, the proposal for a Parliamentary Budget Office to scrutinise and monitor implementation and expenditure of the annual budget statement has, historically, been resisted by the Executive.

Oversight role

The Fiscal Management Bill seeks to entrench Parliament’s oversight role in the preparation, management and allocation of the budget.

It establishes a parliamentary budget office to enforce compliance with targets and fiscal proposals and punish non-compliance through future non-disbursement of funds to public offices and officials who do not account for previous monies.

The Bill requires the Finance minister to declare the macroeconomic principles of a proposed new budget at the end of March, to provide time for MPs to assess them, followed by a discussion of policies with all parliamentary committees.

Ogindo, who has been one of the strongest proponents of the Bill, has held the view that besides checking expenditure, the proposed Parliamentary Budget Office would regulate Government borrowing.

Stories By Peter Opiyo, David Ochami and Beuttah Omanga