The National Assembly has initiated plans to fast-track pending legislative, oversight, and budget-related business to ensure all critical parliamentary work is completed before the House adjourns for the term in June 2027.
Speaking during a Liaison Committee retreat in Mombasa, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss said the committee is auditing outstanding House business to prevent disruptions as lawmakers transition into campaign activities for the 2027 General Election.
“In January we shall start the process of the new budget cycle, which must be closed by June,” Boss said, emphasizing that committee operations naturally face slowdowns when MPs spend extended periods engaging constituents.
To resolve heavy backlogs in oversight organs, Boss disclosed that Parliament is evaluating internal proposals to ease workloads, including the potential split or creation of additional audit accounts committees to assist organs like the Public Accounts Committee in clearing pending reports faster.
Addressing electoral preparedness, the Deputy Speaker assured the public that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will receive full financial support for the upcoming General Election.
“The Electoral Commission’s money is scientific,” Boss noted, explaining that electoral funding models depend on measurable parameters such as registered voters, polling stations, election personnel, and security requirements.
She added that because constitutional timelines dictate specific election dates, IEBC funding remains prioritized over ordinary administrative allocations, adding that electoral officials will brief Parliament to identify urgent statutory amendments required following recent court rulings.
On health management, Boss clarified that county health operations remain fully devolved under the Constitution, directing questions regarding ongoing health workers’ industrial actions to the Senate.
She noted that the Committee on Implementation of the Constitution is reviewing structural challenges in devolution, with long-term recommendations set to be submitted for consideration by the 14th Parliament.
Regarding national security ahead of the polls, Boss called on state law enforcement bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, the National Police Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to strictly fulfill their mandates without political interference.
“Let everyone stay in their lane, and let everyone do their job,” Boss stated.
By Sadik Hassan
