MPs hold special sitting to deliberate on COVID-19 pandemic

Members of parliament
will hold a special sitting on Wednesday to oversight and approve legislations
set to caution the economy against COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking in
an interview with Citizen TV, National Assembly minority leader John Mbadi said
the main issue to be discussed in the Wednesday sitting will COVID-19 pandemic.

“The
government formulated a raft of measures to caution the public and the entire
economy from the effects of COVID-19, which included tax relief. We are going
to look at the bills set by the national treasury to see whether we can amend
laws that best befit Kenyans,” said Mr. Mbadi.

The Suba MP said that the work of the parliament is to oversight, approve
legislations and as MPs “we cannot not just pass a law that can infringe on the
needs and expectations of Kenyans.”

“Our main
focus will be social intervention. We will look for ways to caution Kenyans,
businesses and the vulnerable groups based on the government proposals,” said
the MP.

The minority
leader added that the session will discuss ways to caution the country’s
economy and the Kenyan shilling in the world market, after the diverse effects
of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that
the country’s economy was expected to grow by 2.5 % mark, however the global
pandemic will force it to weigh below the mark.

“This is
something we have to look at globally. Nigeria’s economy is which was projected
to grow by 2.6 and that of South Africa which was to grow by 2.8 and now the
Kenyan one will fall short of the expected mark of 2.5,” said Mbadi.

He added, “We
need to look for ways and strategies of making the basic commodities cheaper
for Kenyans as opposed to being philanthropic because philanthropy has a limit.”

Commenting
on call for MPs to take pay cut like other civil servants, Mbadi said that is a
personal decision.

“As a minority
leader, I cannot order members of parliament to take pay cuts. That is a
voluntary personal decision to make,” he commented.

In the
sitting, only 53 MPs are expected to the chambers of the National Assembly,
with those above 58 years of age allowed to work from home.