Nairobi Woman Representative, Esther Passaris, on Thursday, June 15, dismissed reports claiming that she has been enticed to ditch the Azimio la Umoja coalition to join the government under President William Ruto.
Passaris, who spoke outside Parliament after the 2023/24 budget presentation, maintained that she was still an active Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) politician and an avid supporter of Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
She also dismissed reports alleging that she was bribed to to back Ruto and his proposed tax measures outlined in the Finance Bill 2023.
"I am still in Azimio and have been with ODM since 2007. I have supported Raila ever since, who has in turn supported us as candidates," Passaris defended her stance.
On voting for the Finance Bill 2023 and declining to join her Azimio colleagues in staging a walkout from Parliament while the budget was being presented, Passaris explained that the government needed money for its operations.
The legislator stated that the Finance Bill 2023 and the budget read by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u would protect Kenyans and the government from the negative consequences of mounting debts and a possible recession.
At the same time, she lauded the Kenya Kwanza administration for raising the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) allocation and earmarking Ksh141 billion for the Health sector. HELB will receive Ksh30 billion, up from Ksh15 billion, in Ruto's first budget.
"I would like to say that any government cannot function without money. Our country is grappling with huge debts, and we don't want lenders to adopt austerity measures to control that.
"So we must stand firm to ensure that our government has money. Where will we get the money if the government does not collect tax? People must be taxed so that the government can also fulfill its mandate. I have seen some good things from the budget, including increased allocation to HELB and hospitals," Passaris stated.
On the controversial and mandatory 1.5 per cent Housing Fund deduction, Passaris vowed to hold the government accountable for every penny collected. President William Ruto, had, earlier on, promised to establish a framework that would govern the allocation of the money collected under the Housing Fund program.
"I am still in opposition and I will ensure that all the money is properly accounted for," she insisted.
ODM announced it would initiate disciplinary action against its members who supported the Finance Bill 2023 and the budget reading process. Passaris and Lang'ata MP, Phelix Odiwour (Jalang'o), were listed among the targeted MPs. Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino will also be summoned for failing to vote against the bill.
"The Party received complaints from its general membership regarding the conduct of its members of the National Assembly during yesterday's vote on the Finance Bill, 2023.
"It has therefore commenced disciplinary proceedings against the members," read the statement in part.
