National Assembly Shelves Bill Seeking to Legalise CAS Positions
Once more, the implementation of the Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) roles has been postponed as a result of a plea to the National Assembly to set aside a proposed legislation aiming to authorize them.
Kimani Ichung’wah, the Majority leader of the National Assembly, has urged Speaker Moses Wetangula to withdraw the National Government Administrative Amendment Bill.
During the communication session in the National Assembly on Thursday, March 21st, it was announced that the Bill aimed at legally establishing the roles of CAS positions has been postponed for future consideration.
“The next on the order paper was to be the National Government Administrative Amendment Bill of 2023 by the leader of Majority, he has asked the Speaker to step it down and it has been assented to,” the parliament communication noted.
Kimani Inchung’wah asked for an extension to gather more input on the Bill, resulting in a delay for those vying for certain positions.
“If you go to Article 132 4 (a) of the Constitution states that the office of the President may establish an office in the Public Service by the recommendations of the Public Service Commission,” Ichung’wah defended.
The request came a day after Speaker Wetangula okayed the Bill for debate, noting that, “The National Government Administrative Amendment Bill is properly before the house.”
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The Minority, under the leadership of Opiyo Wandayi, the MP for Ugunja Constituency, objected to the Bill, highlighting sections that they deemed unconstitutional.
“We are being invited in broad daylight, to establish an office through an act of Parliament,” Wandayi noted.
“The executive office comprises of President, Deputy, and CSs, and the accounting officer is the PS. Where does the CASs fall in the executive structure?” Funyula Constituency MP Wilberforce Oundo questioned.
In March, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of the National Assembly suggested bringing back the CAS positions but proposed reducing their number from 50 to 25.
JLAC endorsed the amendments, which will result in the creation of the CASs office, highlighting that these revisions firmly establish the office within the legal framework.
In July 2022, the High Court termed the office as unconstitutional, a decision that was later petitioned at the Court of Appeal.
National Assembly Shelves Bill Seeking to Legalise CAS Positions