1 May 2008
Nairobi — Backbenchers kept up the offensive against Government in Parliament as they set in Motion plans to enact several laws to check excesses.
Three MPs gave notices of Motions designed to clip the excessive powers of the Executive and boost Parliament's oversight role.
First was a proposal to mandate Parliament to determine the size of the Cabinet, coming in the wake of the formation of a 42-member grand coalition Executive.
Another Motion seeks to legislate on the Official Opposition in Parliament to keep Government on its feet, while the last seeks to wrest the role of budget making from the Executive.
Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro gave notice of Motion to determine the size of the Cabinet, which he said was informed by the need for a clean and lean Government.
The MP said the Motion seeks to introduce a Bill for an Act of Parliament to provide for appointments and create an office to control the number of ministers.
He said there was need to enforce provisions of section 16 (1) of the Constitution that stated the number of ministers be established by Parliament.
Excessive ministries
That move would curb the "arbitrary and uncontrolled" setting up of excessive ministries by the Executive for political patronage, he added.
An attempt by former Siakago MP Justin Muturi to move a similar Motion in the last Parliament that would have enforced a limit of not less than 15 but not more than 24 hit a snag.
Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwaba gave notice of a Motion that would pave way for the Official Opposition Bill that aims to anchor, govern and regulate the opposition in Parliament.
The MP said the proposed legislation was long overdue in view of the current "unique circumstances".
The Tenth Parliament does not have an official opposition since all the major parties PNU, ODM and ODM-Kenya are in the Grand Coalition Government.
An attempt by backbenchers to form a grand opposition flopped when the Speaker ruled that was not provided for in the Standing Orders.
Maragwa MP Elias Mbau issued notice of a Motion to seek Parliament's permission for the introduction of a Fiscal Management Bill to ensure democracy, regulation and oversight in budget making.
The proposed legislation seeks to increase the involvement of Parliament in budget making, currently a preserve of Treasury mandarins.
A similar Bill lapsed during the Ninth Parliament.
Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa gave notice of a Motion to compel the Government to write off debts owed to it by farmers.
The MP said the post-election violence had displaced farmers and made it difficult for them to service loans owed to State firms, including the Agricultural Finance Corporation.
The Government has been asked to suspend disbursement of the Sh1 billion Youth Enterprise Development Fund.
Nominated MP Mrs Rachael Shebesh (ODM) said the money should not be disbursed until a National Youth Policy was brought to the House and debated.
Shebesh claimed the youth fund had been politicised to the extent that it was not meeting its intended goals.
Shebesh asked the Minister for Youth and Sports, Prof Hellen Sambili, to consider suspending the disbursement of the fund.
But Sambili, who was responding to a question by Masinga MP, Mr Itwiku Mbai (ODM-K), did not commit herself to the request, noting that the Government would continue consulting widely on the best way of streamlining the fund.
Sambili at the same time said the Government would not waive loans that had been disbursed to youth groups.
She told the House that when the youth got the funds, they were informed it was a loan, which must be repaid.
Members complained that the Sh50,000 being disbursed to youth groups was inadequate and called for its increase to Sh200,000.
Keiyo North MP, Mr Lukas Chepkitony (ODM), said the approval of the money to the youth takes as long as one year and appealed to the Government to shorten the disbursement period.
The Sugar Act will be reviewed to separate the regulatory and marketing roles from the Kenya Sugar Board.
Agriculture minister, Mr William Ruto, said the two roles must be separated so as to run the sugar sector efficiently.
Ruto was responding to a question by Butula MP, Mr Alfred Odhiambo (ODM).
He said the Government had put a caveat on the sale of Busia Sugar Company and had filed an objection in court.
Busia Sugar Company, established in 1980s, was placed under receivership in 2006.
Odhiambo said the assets valued at over Sh100 million were to be auctioned at a reserved price of Sh30 million today.
Ruto said the factory owed said Busia owed Mumias Sugar Factory Sh365 million. He said Busia would have to lease part of its nucleus estate to generate the money it owes creditors.
Nambale MP Chris Okemo (ODM) said the issue of Busia factory had been cropping up every time there was a general election and urged the Government to solve the issue once and for all.
Ruto promised to visit Busia to assess the situation in the area.
Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo (ODM-K) said the country had the potential of self-sufficiency in sugar without imports.
Ruto told the House there was a comprehensive plan to produce sugar in the Tana Delta. He said when the Tana project takes off later this year, the importation of sugar would be cut down by between 70 and 80 per cent.
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