Lawyer and governance commentator Willis Otieno has criticised a section of Members of Parliament who failed to participate in the vote on the Finance Bill 2026, accusing them of abandoning Kenyans at a critical moment.

According to a statement on his X account on Friday, June 18, 2026, Otieno questioned the commitment of the MPs who publicly claim to champion the interests of ordinary citizens but did not show up to cast their votes during the crucial debate.

Otieno said MPs who were absent during the vote cannot credibly present themselves as defenders of the public against unpopular tax measures.

“How does an MP claim to stand with the people while failing to appear in Parliament and cast a ‘No’ vote when the people most urgently require one?” he posed.

Importance of voting

Otieno argued that voting on legislation is one of the most important responsibilities of elected leaders and that lawmakers who skipped the session failed to represent the interests of their constituents.

He claimed that many of the absent MPs would later emerge in public forums criticising government policies and professing solidarity with struggling Kenyans, despite not taking a stand when given the opportunity in Parliament.

Otieno warned Kenyans to remain vigilant, arguing that provisions removed from the Finance Bill 2026 could still find their way back into law through parliamentary procedures.

“Kenyans have seen this script before. Just as happened with sections of the draconian Finance Bill 2024, provisions temporarily withdrawn from the Finance Bill 2026 may well find their way back into Parliament through procedural manoeuvres, escaping meaningful public scrutiny before being quietly enacted,” Otieno said.

MPs vote for Finance Bill

The National Assembly has passed the Finance Bill 2026 after members of Parliament voted in favour during the third reading on Thursday evening.

The bill sailed through with 122 votes in support against 40 votes opposed, with no abstentions recorded.

According to the official tally by the speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, on June 18, 2026, the Ayes comprised 103 electronic votes and 19 manual votes, while the Nays comprised 36 electronic votes and 4 manual votes.

“The results of the vote are as follows: on the third reading of the finance bill, the ayes, electronic vote 103, manual vote 19, total 122. The nays, electronic vote 36, manual vote 4, total 40. Abstentions nil, so the results, the ayes have it,” Wetangula said.