3 Bills Rejected!

3 Bills Rejected!

President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected the Information Communication Technology Practitioners Bill (ICT), 2020. Sections of Kenyans urged Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru to advise President Kenyatta against signing the bill, stating it would undermine players in the sector. The contentious bill sought to require all local ICT practitioners to be licensed and registered by a council. Additionally, the Insurance Professionals Registration Bill of 2020 and the Higher Education Loans Bill of 2020 were also rejected and sent back to Parliament with memoranda.

10 Bills Assented into Law!

President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law 10 bills with the following key features:

  1. 2022 Appropriation Bill and the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2022
    • Authorizes the issue of funds from the Consolidated Fund for the service year ending on June 30, 2022.
  2. Finance Bill 2022
    • Aims to raise revenue for the Sh3.33 trillion budget for the 2022/23 financial year.
    • Parliament rejected proposed increases in taxes on maize and wheat flour, wines, spirits, and motorcycles.
    • The proposed increase in taxes on beauty products and jewelry was retained.
  3. Radiographers Bill 2021
    • Establishes a legislative framework for the training, registration, and licensing of radiographers.
  4. National Electronic Single Window Bill 2021
    • Facilitates trade and commerce through a single entry point for processing import and export documents and making electronic payments.
  5. Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2021
    • Amends the Traffic Act to align with the Constitution and improve the implementation of traffic laws.
  6. National Government Development Fund (Amendment) Bill
    • Provides an accountable process for the allocation of funds for the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board.
  7. Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill of 2022
    • Updates the Supreme Court Act to align with current practices and improve efficiency.
  8. County Allocation of Revenue Bill 2022
    • Allocates revenue raised nationally among county governments for the 2022/23 financial year.
  9. Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2020
    • Ensures the rights of individuals with mental disorders are protected and establishes sufficient mental health facilities at both national and county levels.

For more information or legal assistance on compliance or other legal issues, please contact us at info@wka.co.ke or visit reintech.co.ke/. Our Nairobi hub is located at Parklands, Valley View Business Park, 6th Floor, City Park Drive, Off Limuru Road.

President Kenyatta Announces 12% Minimum Wage Increase for Kenyan Workers

President Kenyatta Announces 12% Minimum Wage Increase for Kenyan Workers

The Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on April 4, 2022, by His Excellency the President of Kenya. The following changes took effect on April 22, 2022.

Key Changes:

  1. Streamlined Job Application Process:
    • Employers will no longer require job applicants to produce clearance and compliance certificates, such as certificates of good conduct, EACC clearance, and HELB clearance, at the initial point of a job application.
    • This amendment aims to ease the financial burden on job applicants, especially young, underprivileged individuals, who previously had to spend around KES 6,000 to acquire these certificates.
  2. Elimination of Application Fees:
    • The fees for applying for clearance and compliance certificates have been scrapped. It is now free to apply for these certificates from relevant institutions like HELB.
  3. Public Service Applicants:
    • Job applicants for public service positions will still be required to submit clearance and compliance certificates.
  4. Post-Offer Requirements:
    • Successful job applicants who receive a letter of offer will still need to submit the required clearance and compliance certificates.
    • Employers have the right to withdraw letters of offer if the prospective employees do not submit the requested certificates.

Recommendations for Employers:

  • Employers should review and update their Human Procedures and Policies Manual and Employment Contracts to align with these changes and ensure compliance with the law.

Please note that the contents of this newsletter are intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. It should not be relied upon without legal advice. For further information or assistance on compliance or any other legal issues, please contact us at info@wka.co.ke.

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