Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and Bumula MP Jack Wamboka on Sunday, June 4, responded to a threat by President William Ruto to cut funding in select constituencies if the lawmakers voted to shut down the Finance Bill 2023.
Speaking in a church service in Leshuta, Narok County, on Sunday, June 4, Ruto remarked that he had a vested interest to see MPs who would shut down the bill.
Omtatah and Wamboka, in separate rejoinders, accused the President of making veiled threats to the Parliament and overreaching his powers.
The Busia Senator, in an interview with TV47, urged his fellow parliamentarians not to be intimidated by the threats but to make the right choice once the bill is brought to the floor of the house.
“The MPs are independent and should vote by their conscience. They were elected by the taxpayers, not the President.
“Let them vote the way the taxpayers want instead of voting based on the government or opposition wishes,” he advised.
Omtatah, however, revealed that it was highly unlikely that the National Assembly would have a constructive debate concerning the bill.
"There is no debate that will be happening in the National Assembly. It will be name-calling and shouting.
"The fate of the bill will be decided outside parliament. You can see Ruto who is not a parliamentarian controlling the process,” Omtatah stated.
He also expressed his dismay at the lengths with which the Head of State was willing to go to make sure the bill sailed through.
"The bill is toxic and if it passes, it will be too expensive to do business in Kenya. Investors will flee,” the first-term legislator stated.
On his part, Wamboka, speaking in Bungoma County, did not take kindly the veiled threat from Ruto that opposing MPs risked being isolated from the development agenda.
"I want to plead with the President that the cost of living is very high. As an MP, I will oppose the bill as it seeks to increase taxes.
“We will not bow to threats since Kenya is a democratic nation and if we will not get development after opposing the bill, then we will tell the electorate not to pay taxes,” he threatened.
Ruto had earlier remarked that he would be watching keenly those MPs who opposed the bill and promised to deal with them
“We need to pass this bill so Kenya can develop. There are some suggestions that MPs should disclose how they voted when the bill is tabled in parliament, but personally, I am waiting to see any MP who will shut down that bill,” he stated.
His statement was supported by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who remarked, "Some of you (leaders) are lying to Kenyans, but know that if your MP is opposed to the Finance Bill, they should not ask for roads.”
