Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The controversial Affordable Housing Bill now awaits presidential assent to become law after Members of Parliament passed it without amendments even as a section of Opposition colleagues walked out of the chambers in protest.

All the amendments proposed by both the Majority and Minority sides were defeated with the bill passing in its original form.

Majority side had an easy ride after Minority Whip Junet Mohammed rallied his troops to walk out in protest, saying the debate had been predetermined in favour of the Executive.

However, several opposition MPs refused to heed to his calls and remained behind to defend their amendments.

Among them was Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula) who had several amendments. They were, however, all thrown out.

Githunguri MP Gathoni wa Muchomba who has been a strong critic of the housing programme also stayed put to move her amendments which were all defeated.

Others who refused to walk out included Nominated MP John Mbadi, Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna, Getrude Mbeyu (Kilifi Woman Rep) and Gem’s Elisha Odhiambo.

Addressing the media after the walkout, the Opposition legislators threatened to move to court to challenge the controversial bill or resume street protests.

Opposition troops led by Junet, threatened to seek legal redress, claiming they were denied the opportunity to make changes to the bill that was at the Committee Stage.

The MPs stormed out of the chambers protesting how the bill was being rushed with MPs from the Minority side denied a chance to submit their amendments.

The opposition MPs protested against what they termed as dictatorship by the regime to push through the bill without amendments.

“Azimio filed several amendments, some on Tuesday and some today morning. Unfortunately, it looks like there are some instructions from Kenya Kwanza regime that this bill be passed without amendment,” said Junet.

He went on: “So we decided to walk out of the chamber because we don’t want to participate in a rubber-stamping exercise or an illegitimate.”

Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), Mbadi and Junet were categorical that the Executive has captured Parliament to rush and push through the Bill at a supersonic speed that no one is allowed to air a divergent opinion.

“This Bill does not only affect Kenya Kwanza supporters but all Kenyans including those in Azimio. All Kenyans are paying taxes,” said Junet.

The Suna East lawmaker further claimed that the government was using strong arm tactics to intimidate MPs, especially those from the opposition to pass the Bill failure to which some of the ongoing projects in their constituencies were going to be stopped.

“I had a meeting with our MPs who voted for the bill in the second reading on Tuesday. I wanted to de-whip them but they cried and said how they were intimidated and coerced to support the Bill. They were warned that if they do not pass the bill, the ongoing projects in their constituencies will be stopped.”
Mbadi took issue with President William Ruto, accusing him of dictatorship in pushing the Bill down the throats of Kenyans.

“This Housing levy does not serve the interest of Kenyans. They know. The Executive knows. The outcome of this bill is already determined. So, as Azimio and Kenyans, we should prepare to go to court or back to where we came from (street protests),” said Mbadi.

According to Otiende, the opposition had issues with the way the bill was being rushed given that it is going to affect Kenyans.

“The report on the bill was tabled in the house on Thursday last week. By Wednesday, the Bill had reached the stage where MPs were required to insert amendments. Most of the MPs from the Azimio side had amendments to be introduced but the Speaker refused,” said Otiende.

Otiende also questioned why the tax was being imposed on gross earnings instead of net. The bill, he added, is also vague on how the houses will be shared or distributed to Kenyans.

On Tuesday, pro-government MPs won a vote that was seeking to stop debate at the Second reading stage pending the determination of a myriad of issues raised by the Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
Amollo, Mbadi and Oundo protested that the Bill had many gaps that needed to be addressed before it is subjected to the Third reading.

Mbadi said the Bill was exposing Kenyans including Mama Mboga who were promised that this levy will only affect those who are salaried and have a payslip to unnecessary harassment by KRA.

“To impose this levy on people who don’t have a salary is going to be a nightmare,” said Mbadi.
He added; “There is something that worries me about this Bill. In an effort by the executive to correct what was said in court, they are creating a bigger problem to the people of Kenya.”