Embakasi East Constituency Member of Parliament, Paul Ongili, alias Babu Owino has come out on social media with claims that the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula is responsible for the absenteeism of many MPs during the Finance Bill vote.

In a video shared on his Twitter handle, Babu explains that the National Assembly Speaker announced that the voting would only take place next week during the Finance Bill’s third reading, adding that the second reading would only entail a debate.

“Today I went to parliament at around 9.30 am with the intention to debate the Finance Bill. At around 11 am, the speaker made a ruling, that the debate would take place today up to 9 pm, then the debate would proceed from next week on Tuesday. Thereafter, voting will take place,” Babu explained.

He went added to state that he was scheduled to attend a court case on Thursday, June 15, 2023, which happened to be the morning following the debate night. Babu claims that the speaker’s announcement led to his decision to leave the house, as he was guaranteed the voting would take place next week.

Babu explains that after the announcement, he talked to the National Assembly Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi to inform him of his intention to leave the assembly.

“Based on that decision, I approached Honorable Opiyo Wandayi, explained to him my situation, that tomorrow, I will be having my defence hearing at Milimani Law courts. That I needed to meet my lawyer for preparations, then he okayed and I just left,” Babu said.

The Embakasi East MP says that he noted the change of plans in the assembly only when he was already in his lawyer’s office.

“I realized while at my lawyer’s office, that actually the Speaker changed and made another ruling that voting was to take place today.,” he added.

According to Babu, most MPs were not expecting the voting to take place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, but they knew it was scheduled to happen next week Tuesday, June 20, 2023. He further explains that the said reason which was based on the speaker’s initial ruling, resulted in the absence of many MPs, especially from the opposition.

“By that time, so many members were depending on the fact that voting would take place after Tuesday next week and that explains why so many members have missed especially from Azimio.

Babu criticizes Bill

Babu criticized the Finance Bill, insisting that the bill would only harm Kenyans.

“I want to tell you that this Finance Bill is retrogressive. It is a bill that is punishing Kenyan. It is a bill that I can’t support. It is a bill that I know is going to hurt Kenyans,” he said.

Affirming his loyalty to his constituents, Babu also said that knowing that “the bill is going to hurt Kenyans, he can never be in support of it, even if a request came from the leader of his Azimio party, Raila Odinga (Baba)”.

“It is a bill that even if Baba himself would have told me to support, I can never support it, because of my loyalty to my people.”

Babu also apologized to Kenyans for missing the Finance Bill 2023 vote but went ahead to insist that he had to prepare for the case which was awaiting him in court the following day.

“Today am so sorry that I wasn’t present, because, of my situation tomorrow,” Babu concluded.

In a tweet, Babu encouraged Kenyans, stating that ‘there is still hope to oppose the bill in the next stage.

“Fellow kenyans, the main, most important, more significant and crucial stage of a bill like the Finance Bill is the 3rd reading stage where voting will take place for each clause. This will be next week. Bado kuna hope,” the legislator said.

Who missed and who voted?

A total of 92 MPs missed the Finance Bill vote. Most of the MPs who were absent were from Azimio Coalition. 176 MPs voted in support of the Finance Bill and 81 voted against the bill.

Githunguri Constituency Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba was the only UDA MP who voted against the bill, stating that she was ready to face the consequences for defying the ruling party.

“I am ready to be called to be called all types of names for standing with the people. Even if they want to remove me from my parliamentary seat, I am ready,” Wamuchomba said.