Seven Bills as well as amendments have been signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Bills are among the ones that were recently passed by parliament.
The Court of Appeal Act 2015 that touches on the organization and administration, the High Court Act 2015 also on the organization and administration as well as the Magistrate Courts Act 2015 have now been signed into law by the head of state.
The others that have been signed into law include the Higher Education Loans Board Act 2015 which has been amended, the Kenya National Examination Council Act 2015 which also has been amended, the Tax Procedure Act 2015 as well as the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Act 2015 have now taken effect as laws.
The three amendment acts touching on the judiciary are meant to turn the judicial process into a system that will be responsive to all the needs of Kenyans at all levels. The Act on the judiciary also aims at making the system more efficient in dispensing justice to Kenyans. This comes after the judiciary has in the recent past blamed on being too slow in dispensing justice.
The Tax Procedures Acts effects the Excise Duty which came into force on the 1st of December this year. The Act also consolidates all the laws that govern the collection of revenue by the government from Kenyans. The Act also simplifies the mode through which the government will collect revenue from Kenyans.
The Higher Education Loans Board Act gives students the right to be notified by the Board on the status of their loan application. On the recent past, university students have had to take to the streets due to the failure of the Board to keep them up to date on their loans.
The amendment on the Kenya National and Examination Council frees parents as well as students from paying for both the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). This implies that students from now henceforth will now undertake their national examinations free of charge.
The act that touches greatly on the economy and developments is that of National Government Constituencies Development Fund.
The Act recognizes the constituency as the platform for the identification as well as the performance of the National Government.
The mechanisms that are provided in the Act supplement the infrastructural development at the constituency level by the National Government.
Members of the Parliament had fought to maintain the CDF kitty after attempts to scrap it off on the grounds that it is not recognized by the constitution.
Article by Juma Fred.