New details have emerged indicating that Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs) issued an ultimatum to President Uhuru Kenyatta in exchange for their adoption of his VAT proposal.
An MP who spoke to Daily Nation conveyed that they accepted the VAT proposal on condition that the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) remained untouched.
"All they wanted from the President was the assurance that allocations to CDF are not reduced. In fact, they wanted the allocation increased.
"They are using CDF to blackmail the President," the MP who chose to remain unnamed relayed on Wednesday.
The CDF kitty had been allocated Ksh35 Billion in the 2018/2019 financial year budget.
The president had proposed a Ksh5 Billion cut from the fund as one of the austerity measures to cut on government spending.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Tuesday tabled the supplementary financial estimates indicated that the CDF allocation remained Ksh35 Billion.
In addition to the demand on CDF, the MPs ganged up against proposed taxes on sugar and confectioneries.
Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo argued that the introduction of the tax on sweets would make Kenya's products uncompetitive in the region.
Parliament is set to debate and vote on the president's proposal on Thursday.
