Protests wake-up call for dozing MPs

The protests that began in Nairobi before engulfing major towns in Kenya are a demonstration of Kenyans’ lack of confidence and hope in their Members of Parliament.

Though a cornered President William Ruto bowed to pressure and withdrew some of the unpopular proposals in the 2024 Finance Bill, Kenyans still poured onto the streets in their thousands to pile pressure on legislators over the same issue.

This could be the result of the precedent set last year when MPs from the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, friendly parties and some Azimio rebels were whipped at State House to pass the 2023 finance bill despite protests from the general public and key players.

The government proceeded to implement all recommendations contained in the 2023 bill, even after they were overruled by courts over their unconstitutionality.

One such contentious laws was the Housing Levy, which was pushed through to the end though the High Court had declared it unconstitutional.

On Tuesday, President Ruto succumbed to pressure and allowed some amendments that included shelving VAT on bread, taxes on motor vehicles and imported diapers and sanitary towels.

With the ball now in the MPs’ court, one would have expected Kenyans to let the matter rest, as the bill was now in the hands of their representatives. It is apparent that continuing agitation is a show that the young people on the streets are suspicious of Parliament.

This is because MPs have surrendered their responsibilities to the Executive, with their roles reduced to rubber-stamping whatever is brought to them by the State House.

The reputation of Parliament has been tainted by claims of corruption, executive interference, nepotism, tribalism and petty party politics, which seem to have eroded people’s confidence and faith in lawmakers.

Perhaps the protests should be used as a wake-up call fo MPs, who need to urgently reassess their legislative and oversight roles and mandates vis-à-vis their relationship with the Executive.

A question that keeps ringing in Kenyans’ minds is whether the lawmakers are people’s representatives or an extension of the Executive?