Budget D-day still ruffling feathers

Written By:Rufus Hunja,    Posted: Sat, Jun 04, 2011

The Finance Minister remains adamant that the Budget will be read on June 8th despite some MPs threatening a boycott

Controversy over the budget reading scheduled for next week shows no sign of abating.

Gichugu Member of Parliament Martha Karua Friday said this year's budget should not be accompanied by the fanfare associated with the others before.

While acknowledging that Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta breached the constitution by failing to provide the executive estimates in April, Karua said she has no problem with Uhuru reading the budget on June 8^th, but called for tolerance awaiting House Speaker Kenneth Marende's ruling on the same.  

Uhuru has stood his ground that he will read the budget come next Wednesday, in spite of threats by a section of MPs to boycott the reading.

With Marende yet to make his ruling, Parliament seems to have softened its stand and will allow the Finance Minister to read the Budget as planned.

Karua however says Parliament should do away with the old Westminster style of doing business, where Parliament would adjourn after the Budget is read.

This year's budget is expected to hit the 1 trillion shillings mark and questions have arisen as to how the Finance Minister intends to raise such an amount for the country's expenditure.

Speaking in Samburu County Karua said Parliament is waiting for the speakers ruling on Tuesday next week, as this will chart the way forward.

Provincial administration Assistant Minister Simeon Lesirma urged MPs to focus on more important issues like unity among Kenyans as well as development.