National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has disclosed that the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which was rejected by Gen Z protesters, was later split into four separate bills and passed by Parliament.

Speaking during the burial of Douglas Kanja’s father on Thursday, October 23, 2025, Ichung’wah explained that dividing the bill allowed the government to revive development projects that had previously stalled.

He said the split bills contained provisions that had initially been removed following public opposition during the protests, noting that their passage has now enabled the government to resume key projects.

Watch: Ichung’wah says Parliament quietly passed sections of rejected Finance Bill 2024

Ichung’wah further revealed that many of the beneficial clauses in the original Finance Bill 2024 were lost after the legislation was rejected, which delayed the implementation of several government programmes.

He stated that the restructuring of the bill into four separate parts was necessary to reintroduce essential measures aimed at boosting revenue collection and development.

“Na baadae tulipoirekebisha tukaikatakat ile bill ikawa mara 4, tukaipitisha hio ndio maana leo hii mnaona maendeleo,” Ichungwah said

Ichungwah further attributed the rejected Finance Bill 2024 to the failure of state operatives drumming up support for government agendas, leaving Kenyans to rely on falsehood.

“Wanenaji wa serikali, tuwe na mtindo wa kuambia Wakenya ukweli, na mimi hiwa naingia kwa mutatizo kwa sababu ya kusema ukweli. Last year, tulipooata mutation kwa sababu ya finance bill, hadi tukatoa hayo mambo amabyo wakenya walisema kwa public participation hawayataki, kwa kitu inaitwa amendment lakini wakenya wakakataa wakasema, ‘Don’t amend. Reject.’ Yale mambo mazuri hotel ambayo yalikuwa kwa hio bill wakati rais hakutia sahihi ilipotea. Hiyo ndio maana mumeona tumechelewa kwa utendakazi, kwa sababu ile bill nzuri amabyo ingetusaidia kuokota ishuru, tuliitupa.”

Salasya slams Ichung’wah

His remarks have, however, drawn criticism from various quarters, with Mumias East MP Peter Salasya among those condemning the statement.

According to Salasya, such comments reflect the same arrogance that was displayed by some lawmakers before the Gen Z protests, suggesting that leaders have learnt little from the public’s strong opposition to the earlier bill.