Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday pleaded with Kenyans not to punish members of Parliament who approved the Finance Bill, 2024.
In a tense address to the Nation delivered from Mombasa, the second-in-command defended the lawmakers, a majority of whom belong to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, who toed the ruling party's line during the Parliamentary voting process on Tuesday and Thursday last week.
He further noted that since the Head of State had thrown out the bill in its entirety, it was only fair if Kenyans softened their stance against the lawmakers.
"I want to ask Kenyans not to punish MPs for the stand that they took. A government is formed by a political party. Once a government has a programme in Parliament and decides it is good for the people, members of Parliament from that party must toe the line," stated Gachagua.
"I do not want you to punish members of Parliament, they just did what is right in terms of our political formation. Allow them to support their government because that is why they were elected as members of the government party."
"Let us not harass, abuse, and attack their properties. They were just doing what the government wanted and now that the government has decided to do the right thing, I think we should close that chapter," the DP added.
During his address, Gachagua asked the public to wait until 2027 in case they want to punish or affirm a lawmaker regarding fallout stemming from the Finance Bill 2024 or any other matter.
His speech came roughly an hour after his boss, William Ruto, announced that he would not assent to the bill even though it was passed in the National Assembly.
The Head of State noted that he had heard the cries of the public and directed the government to make cuts in order to accommodate the next financial year beginning in July.
"Having reflected keenly on the conversation surrounding the bill and listening to the people of Kenya who have said they want nothing to do with the bill," Ruto stated.
"I concede and therefore I will not sign the bill. It will be subsequently withdrawn and that becomes our position."
Hardline lawmakers in the ruling party among them Finance Committee Kimani Kuria and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah experienced firsthand the wrath of a scorn population.
Kuria's home in Nakuru County was looted and then torched while the office of Ichung'wah in Kikuyu Constituency was demolished.
In the first reading of the Finance Bill on Thursday last week, 205 MPs voted to pass the bill while in yesterday's second reading, 195 lawmakers voted to adopt the amendments.
Meanwhile, a peaceful protest turned chaotic with individuals breaching security around Parliament to damage a section of the building.
In his speech, Gachagua further implored the protesters to call off their planned protests scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, June 27.
