SRC engages National Assembly Labour Committee on Supplementary 1 Estimates

SRC engages National Assembly Labour Committee on Supplementary 1 Estimates

By Stephen Oinga

On 17 July 2024, SRC submitted to the National Assembly, the Supplementary 1 Estimates for the financial year 2024/2025, in accordance with Section 44(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, as read together with the Standing Order 243(3B).

Upon submission, the estimates were assigned to Departmental Committees for review and reporting to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will subsequently report to the House.

In light of this, on 17 July 2024, the Departmental Committee on Labour held a meeting with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, under its purview to discuss the Supplementary Estimates.

SRC’s delegation included, Lyn Mengich, Chairperson, along with Commissioners Nelly Ashubwe, Hon. Sen. Isaac Melly, and Anne Gitau, Commission Secretary/CEO, during the meeting held at the Continental House, Parliament Buildings, Nairobi.

In SRC’s submissions to the Committee, the Chairperson presented data on: the overall variation to SRC’s approved 2024/2025 recurrent and development budget; highlights of the most affected programmes, projects, and spending items; and the expected impact of the budget revisions on programme and project targets.

In her remarks, Mrs. Mengich noted that the following areas were likely to be affected by the budget cuts; airtime, internet, courier services, ex-officio Commissioners’ allowances, WIBA/GPA and medical cover, procurement and supply of office stationery and other necessary consumables, and regular maintenance of SRC’s vehicles, among others.

Hon. Kagesi Kevai, Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, acknowledged that the current economic situation, exacerbated by the fall of the Finance Bill, 2024, constrained their ability to avoid budget cuts.

However, he assured that he would advocate for SRC’s case before the Budget and Appropriations Committee for further consideration.