Parliament sets June 17 deadline for public views on quantity surveyors, microfinance and health Bills

Kenyans have been invited to submit their views on three proposed Bills currently before the National Assembly, covering reforms in quantity surveying, microfinance banking, and the health sector.

The Bills, including the Quantity Surveyors Bill, the Microfinance Bill, and the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill, seek to introduce new regulatory frameworks, strengthen oversight mechanisms and improve professional standards across the three sectors.

In a notice on Thursday, the National Assembly said the invitation has been issued in line with constitutional requirements for public participation in law-making. It is anchored on Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution, which requires Parliament to facilitate public involvement in its legislative work, and National Assembly Standing Order 127(3), which directs committees handling Bills to ensure public participation is conducted before reporting back to the House.

The three Bills were read for the first time in the National Assembly and subsequently referred to relevant Departmental Committees for scrutiny and reporting.

The Quantity Surveyors Bill is sponsored by the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works. It seeks to create a separate legal and regulatory structure for the practice of quantity surveying in Kenya by establishing the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya alongside an independent regulatory council.

At present, quantity surveyors are regulated together with architects under the Architects and Surveyors Act, Cap. 525. The proposed law seeks to separate the two professions by giving quantity surveyors their own institutional framework. It further aims to improve accountability within the profession, strengthen disciplinary mechanisms, and align practice with international standards and best practices.

The Microfinance Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 9 of 2026), sponsored by Molo MP Kuria Kimani, proposes to repeal and replace the Microfinance Act, Cap. 493C, to reflect changes in the banking and microfinance sector.

The Bill provides for the licensing and regulation of microfinance banks, including the grounds and procedures for revocation of a licence, restrictions on ownership of share capital and processes for amalgamation, acquisition and transfer of assets and liabilities.

It also sets out operational requirements for microfinance banks, including minimum capital requirements and ratios, minimum liquid assets, risk management measures, official places of business, prohibited practices, restrictions on dividend declarations, limits on loans and credit facilities, restrictions on insider lending, and controls on share transfers.

On governance, the Bill outlines corporate structures for microfinance banks, including the role of boards, appointment and composition of directors and restrictions preventing significant shareholders from participating in management.

It further provides rules on accounts and audit processes, including the preparation of financial statements, submission to the Central Bank of Kenya, appointment and role of auditors, as well as publication and correction of accounts.

The Bill also strengthens the supervision powers of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), allowing inspections, examinations of banking groups, issuance of directives, access to banking systems, intervention in institutional affairs, and procedures for voluntary liquidation.

"Consumer protection provisions are also included, with penalties for false advertising and other unfair practices in the sector," reads the notice.

The Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 10 of 2026), sponsored by Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina Mathenge, seeks to amend the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, Cap. 253.

It introduces regulation for community oral health officers, dental technologists and optometrists, bringing them under a clearer legal framework. The Bill also provides for the registration of foreign practitioners who are resident in Kenya.

In addition, it seeks to address concerns over fraudulent acquisition of professional registration licences by strengthening controls within the registration system for medical and dental practitioners.

In compliance with Article 118 (1)(b) of the Constitution and Standing Order 127(3), the Clerk of the National Assembly has formally invited members of the public and stakeholders to submit memoranda on the Bills to the respective Departmental Committees.

The Quantity Surveyors Bill has been referred to the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, the Microfinance Bill to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, and the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill to the Departmental Committee on Health.

"Copies of the Bills are available at the National Assembly Table Office at the Main Parliament Buildings and on the parliamentary website at www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/house-business/bills," reads the notice.

Members of the public may submit their memoranda to the Clerk of the National Assembly, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, hand-deliver them to the Office of the Clerk at the Main Parliament Buildings, or email them to [email protected].

"All submissions must be received on or before Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 5:00 pm," the National Assembly said.