Malala, Monica Juma, Ndii cleared to attend Cabinet meetings

NAIROBI Kenya, June 27 -The Cabinet on Tuesday June 27 approved the establishment of a special committee on pending bills.

The Pending Bills Verification Committee will be tasked with the auditing of liabilities for the period between 2005 and 2022.

In a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House, the Cabinet also approved the attendance of UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala, chairperson of Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii and National Security advisor Monica Juma in its meetings.

In a dispatch, the Cabinet also approved the attendance of advisor on Women Rights Harriette Chiggai of the weekly Tuesday Cabinet meetings.

“This is in line with getting women issues at the center of President William Ruto’s administration,” the Cabinet said in a dispatch.

The four took their oaths of secrecy on Tuesday during the meeting at State House.

The Cabinet also noted that pending bills remains a sticky issue.

The National Government pending bills since June 2005 to June 2022 stand at Sh481 billion while counties owe Sh159.9 billion.

The committee will consist the Attorney General, the State Department of Roads, the State Department of Public Works, the State Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Engineers of Kenya and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya will also be part of it.

The committee will examine and submit interim reports to the Treasury Cabinet secretary upon verification. The government will honour the obligation in question.

The move is aimed at establishing the integrity of all bills and cushioning small enterprises against liquidity inadequacies.

Crucially, the committee will propose a mechanism to stop future pending bills and is expected to present its final report within a year.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of decentralized offices of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice.

This will ensure that services are accessible to the people at the grassroots at a minimal cost.

It also consented to the transmission and introduction of Tribunals Bill, 2023, to Parliament.

If enacted, the Bill will rationalise and regulate the administration and functions of Tribunals, establish the Tribunals Registry and ensure independence and impartiality in their operations.