MPs full in-tray after recess: Budget, IEBC vetting and committee shake-ups ahead

Parliament will resume on Tuesday after a two-month recess, with lawmakers expected to handle a packed agenda that includes the Budget Policy Statement (BPS), the reconstitution of key committees, and the vetting of new electoral commissioners.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is set to table the BPS for the Financial Year 2025-2026, a key document that outlines the government's spending priorities.

According to parliamentary rules, the statement must be submitted by February 15, giving Mbadi until Thursday to meet the deadline.

The National Assembly will also review the Debt Management Strategy, which is expected in the House by the same date.

In addition, MPs will consider the Joint Report from the National Assembly's 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.

Another key focus will be pending legislation, including 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.

Reconstitution of committees

The reconstitution of 18 National Assembly committees, whose term expires on Tuesday, 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. Traditionally, this 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. The vetting process is expected to be a high-priority issue.

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Senate

Like the National Assembly, the Senate will also begin its session with the reconstitution of key select committees, including the Senate Business Committee, County Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Delegated Legislation.

Senators will then turn their attention to 53 pending bills, including The Coffee Bill, 2023, the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023, and the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2024.

On the budget front, the Senate will review the BPS, the Division of Revenue Bill, and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill for 2025.

Senators are also expected to debate a new revenue-sharing formula proposed by the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA), which will cover the Financial Years 2025-2026 to 2029-2030.

The formula, submitted to Parliament on December 31, 2024, has already faced strong opposition from some senators, who claim it is discriminatory.