The CS, who met the committee in a closed session, reportedly agreed to a Sh28.4 billion budget for Parliament. The Parliamentary Service Commission proposed a Sh31.9 billion budget for 2016-17, but the MPs have now been forced to reduce it because of shrinking revenue. Rotich, who appeared before the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, told the lawmakers Parliament must tighten its belt for tough austerity measures because the government cannot afford their Sh31.9 billion demand. But the MPs have maintained they cannot take anything less than the Sh27.3 billion the Treasury earlier allocated the bicameral Parliament. MPs suffered a blow yesterday when National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich flatly rejected their request for more money to fund Parliament’s 2016-17 budget.

Source: The Star June 15, 2016 01:50 UTC