Majority of Kakamega legislators vow to vote against Finance Bill
By dennis-lumiti, June 14, 2023Members of Parliament from Kakamega County are divided on how they will vote on the controversial Finance Bill.
While some have openly voiced their support or opposition for the Bill, some are still undecided.
Of the 13 members of the National Assembly from the county, only two MPs have publicly declared that they will vote for the Bill.
They are Fred Ikana of Shinyalu and Malulu Injendi of Malava. Also supporting the Bill is Senator Boni Khalwale.
Seven have publicly opposed the legislation. They include Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, Christopher Aseka of Khwisero, Peter Salasya of Mumias East, Mumias West’s Johnstone Naicca and Titus Khamala of Lurambi.
Others opposed to the Bill include Nabii Nabwera of Lugari and Innocent Mugabe of Likuyani.
But Ikolomani’s Benard Shinali, Emmanuel Wangwe of Navakholo, Tindi Mwale of Butere and Matungu’s Peter Nabulindo remain undecided.
The MPs have found themselves between the proverbial rock and hard place as they seek to make a decision that will not backfire on them politically but also maintain a cordial relationship with the national government.
Shinali and Wangwe, for instance, have been longtime allies of President William Ruto dating from their days in the Jubilee administration but parted ways prior to the 2022 elections.
Ruto founded UDA which teamed up with, among others, ANC and Ford-Kenya to form Kenya Kwanza Alliance while Shinali and Wangwe joined ODM under Azimio Coalition.
But the two have been working with the current government while avoiding confrontational politics exhibited by members of their coalition.
“We understand that times are hard while the government needs funds at the same time to serve Kenyans. Thus, my position is that we reach a consensus so that we do not chop the baby into two. We are, therefore, still consulting,” Shinali said yesterday.
Muhanda said she was opposed to the Bill because it would worsen the economic problems that Kenyans are grappling with.
“Even if the Kenya Kwanza administration desperately needs to raise more money, why can’t they expand the tax base and rein in corruption and wastage? More so, this is not the right time to raise taxes due to the harsh economic times,” she added.
But Ikana said he would be voting for the Bill so as to enable him receive sufficient funds from the national government to serve his constituents.
“The truth is that the current government inherited empty coffers and the only way to raise money to fund its development programmes is through taxation. This will benefit all Kenyans, especially the poor majority,” he told People Daily on phone.