By Reporter
The National Assembly resumed and entered the third and final part of the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament with a plateful of activities in store ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In this session, the House is expected to preside over the budget and electoral reforms, which will take centre stage during the final part of the Fifth Session.
Speaker (Dr.) Moses M. Wetang’ula welcomed the members back for the third and final part of the Fifth Session, saying the limited time available required the House and its Committees to accelerate consideration of pending legislative business.
“In view of the limited period remaining before the conclusion of the session, it is imperative for the House and its committees to prioritise pending legislative and oversight business to ensure its expeditious conclusion,” the Speaker said.
Wetang’ula said the House would undertake consideration of the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the related fiscal framework for the next financial year, with the objective of completing the budget cycle before the election period.
“The House will be required to undertake this process with efficiency and diligence, with a view to concluding consideration of all budget-related matters by the end of March 2027,” he said.
The accelerated timetable is intended to allow Parliament to complete consideration of the Budget Estimates, Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill before the August 2027 elections.
The National Assembly’s Liaison Committee, during its recent retreat, pointed out the need for Parliament to conclude the budget process early. MPs are expected to resume sittings in late January 2027, earlier than usual, to provide sufficient time for scrutiny and approval of the budget legislation.
The tight schedule follows the commencement of preparations for the 2027/28 budget cycle, with Treasury expected to table the BPS and other key budget documents before Parliament for consideration. The process is designed to culminate in the passage of the Finance and Appropriation Bills by 31 March 2027.
Electoral reforms will form part of the House’s agenda as Parliament prepares for the 2027 polls.
The Speaker told Members that he had referred proposals submitted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration.
The Committee is expected to scrutinise the proposals and recommend appropriate amendments for incorporation into the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024 (Senate Bill No. 29 of 2024).
