A House team has increased the budget allocation ceiling for Parliament and Executive for the next financial year by Sh52 billion.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee has increased the allocation for Parliament by Sh2 billion from the Sh41 billion set by Treasury in the Budget Policy Statement 2024.
The Executive’s budget is up by Sh50 billion to peak at Sh2.48 trillion from the initial Sh2.43 trillion following the vote by the Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro-led team.
The Judiciary’s ceilings have been retained at Sh23.69 billion as proposed by the National Treasury and approved by the Cabinet.
The Budget Committee has further recommended Sh391.1 billion for county governments as an equitable share and Sh7.9 billion to the Equalisation Fund.
Counties are also to further get Sh48 billion as conditional allocations, which is to be approved through the County Government Additional Allocation Bill, 2024.
“That once approved by this House, these recommendations shall form the basis for the financial year 2024-25 budget estimates,” the committee said.
The Nyoro-led team has made further recommendations [non-financial] in respect of next year’s budget including that the government should prepare guidelines for proper costing of projects.
MPs also want the National Treasury to prioritse payment for land compensation in the estimates before they are presented to the National Assembly.
The Budget committee further wants Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS Alice Wahome to provide guidelines on the use of locally made materials in the construction of affordable houses.
MPs have also recommended that the Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi draw a framework for last-mile delivery of subsidized fertiliser, seeds and seedlings to farmers.
The committee further wants the Treasury to incorporate a section on gender responsiveness of various policy proposals in the next years’ (2025) BPS.
MPs have also asked the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee to gazette all pending devolved functions and submit a report to MPs by April 30.
This was even as MPs observed there is no coordination between the Gender department and the 47 county woman representatives in the supply and distribution of sanitary towels for schoolgirls.
MPs also noted that the Sports ministry was yet to draw a comprehensive budget for the upgrade of stadiums and training grounds for the Africa Cup of Nations tourney.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about the high costs of acquiring equipment used by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
“There is a need to consider leasing such equipment to cushion the service from the high cost of replacing them every time there are technological advancements,” BAC said.
