Cabinet approve bill giving treasury powers to privatise state enterprises

Privatisation will tame the demand for government resources

In Summary
  • It further allowed the National Treasury to engage the Director of Public Prosecutions and provide relevant information on the public interest.
  • The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy.
National Treasury and Planning CS nominee Njuguna Ndung'u answers vetting questions from the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on October 18
National Treasury and Planning CS nominee Njuguna Ndung'u answers vetting questions from the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on October 18
Image: FILE

The Cabinet has approved a bill giving power to the Treasury to privatise public-owned enterprises without the bureaucratic approvals of Parliament.

The bill will repeal the Privatisation Act, 2005 ushering in a more facilitative and non-inhibiting legal and policy framework that will oversee privatisation in the country.

According to the Cabinet, the sale of non-strategic, non-performing public entities will help improve the upgrade of infrastructure and the delivery of services to Kenyans.

Privatisation will also tame the demand for government resources and generate more funds to drive the government’s development agenda.

The cabinet also granted approval for the government to pursue a negotiated commercial settlement for the Commercial Contracts and Financing Agreements for the Arror, Kimwarer and Itare Dams.

It further allowed the National Treasury to engage the Director of Public Prosecutions and provide the relevant information on the public interest implications arising from the huge financial exposure of the government.

The top decision-making body of the government also approved the appropriate restructuring of the government of Kenya's outstanding debt service obligations under the Financing Agreements for the Arror, Kimwarer and Itare Dams.

It reinstated the mandate, functions and operations of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training-Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC).

TVET-CDACC will now be tasked with the designing and development of learner-centered, demand-driven, industry-led TVET curricula for the training institutions’ examination, assessment and competence certification.

The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy which will go a long way in decongesting the courts.

It also gives the public the opportunity to resolve disputes through means fashioned to respond to the real and practical world.

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