Kitui Central Member of Parliament (MP) Makali Mulu, on Tuesday, June 13, lamented that there was a deliberate scheme to have MPs pass the Finance Bill 2023 without reading it.
According to the politician, a significant number of Members of Parliament (MPs) are unaware of the contents of the bill that is scheduled for a vote on Wednesday, June 14.
While appearing on a talk show on Citizen TV, Mulu provided insight into the circumstances surrounding the MPs' lack of familiarity with the bill. The legislator disclosed that the MPs had been confined to the chambers late into the night and instructed to reconvene at parliament the following day at 9:00 am in order to vote on the 500-page document.
While explaining how the MPs were hoodwinked, Mulu pointed out that the majority of the time allocated for debating the bill was consumed by the parliamentary Finance Committee leaving the MPs with insufficient time to scrutinize and discuss the document.
“Informed by the contribution from Kenyans, the committee retreated to Naivasha to consolidate comments from the public, consider them and then make decisions based on their judgement,” he lamented.
MPs were scheduled to debate and vote on the bill on Thursday, June 8, but the exercise was postponed to give the committee sufficient time to make necessary amendments raised through public participation.
Mulu explained that following the committee's retreat, Molo MP Francis Kuria, the chairperson of the committee, presented an extensive document that the MPs were unable to read within the stipulated timeframe.
“Kuria tabled a 500-page report. The report was tabled minutes ago, and the Speaker (Moses Wetangula) pronounced that we avail ourselves for the debate tomorrow by 9 am,"
“I am a very frustrated Kenyan. We adjourned minutes to 10 pm. Where do we get time to read this report?” the MP explained adding that most parliamentarians will vote for or against the bill without being aware of its contents.
He posed that the August House had been hoodwinked, stressing that the committees were meant to provide guidance to the MPs during debates instead of making decisions on their behalf.
On Wednesday, June 7, John Mbadi, the chairperson of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), expressed concerns that a majority of MPs would be compelled to vote in favor of the bill due to external pressure. Mbadi highlighted that these concerns arose from the threats made by President William Ruto towards the MPs.
“Some MPs - who I will not mention - have difficulties on whether they should vote for the Finance Bill or not because the president is threatening those who will not support it,” Mbadi stated.
During the thanksgiving service of Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya in Narok on June 4, Ruto issued a threat to "cut down" any MPs who opposed the bill. The President even suggested that the vote should be conducted through an open ballot to identify those who were against it.
"I am waiting to see the Members of Parliament who vote against employment opportunities for our young people, against affordable housing that would enable them to own a home with a five percent mortgage," Ruto charged.
In subsequent TV interviews, Mbadi also argued that MPs would pass the Bill without scrutinizing it. Lawmakers only have a 24-hour window to make necessary amendments before Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung’u reads the 2023/2024 budget on Thursday, June 15.
The Ksh3.6 trillion budget will be the first under President William Ruto’s administration, and it will draw its funding framework from the Finance Bill 2023.
On Tuesday, June 13, President Ruto urged the MPs to vote unanimously on the bill once it is presented in Parliament.
Speaking during the opening of Kerugoya General Hospital in Kirinyaga County, Ruto noted that by passing the Finance Bill 2023, the MPs would create jobs and aid Kenya Kwanza in securing its legacy.
