Parliament begins last session amid quorum fears

By Kevin Wachira

The National Assembly will this afternoon resume its sittings for the final session before the August’s General elections.

It will be mad rush for parliament is it reconvenes this afternoon for the 5th and last session before the August polls.

Top on the agenda of the August House will be the winding up of debate on crucial bills as well as the preparation of the 2017/2018 budget by end of March ahead of its reading in April in what promises to be strict timelines from which it must carry its legislative work.

Majority Leader Aden Duale while speaking in Garissa acknowledged the possibility of the house facing quorum hitch as elections approach since MPs will be busy campaigning.

Among key businesses awaiting members is the budget estimates 2017/18 which are expected from treasury by latest next week Tuesday.

Mps have already dispensed with the budget policy statement and are now expected to expeditiously deal with bills related to the budget making process including the division of revenue bill and the county allocation of revenue bill.

This year’s budget will therefore be read latest by April.

Other crucial bills the house is expected to consider during this session include the statute miscellaneous amendment bill, the finance bill, the money laundering bill and the public service amendment bill.