‘Neither the President nor parliament can withdraw Finance Bill 2024’ – Otiende Amollo
Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula, stating that neither the president nor Parliament can withdraw the Finance Bill 2024 after the third reading.
In his letter, Amollo argues that Parliament should not convene to pass the recommendations of President William Ruto to delete all clauses of the controversial bill following widespread public disapproval.
Instead, Amollo suggests that the Finance Bill be first operational then the Parliament debates it for dropping.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, President William Ruto wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula to withdraw the Finance Bill 2024.
In the Presidential memorandum of referral, Ruto directed that the Finance Bill 2024 be taken back to Parliament for reconsideration.
“Taking into consideration the widespread expression of dissatisfaction by members of the public on the contents of the Finance Bill 2024; now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred to me by article 115 (1) (b) of the Constitution and having reservations on the contents of the bill in entirety, I decline to assent to the Finance Bill 2024 and refer the bill for reconsideration by the National Assembly with the recommendation for the deletion of all the clauses thereof,” the memorandum noted.
The controversial Finance Bill 2024 was bulldozed through parliament amid chants for its rejection by Opposition members of parliament and an intense protest outside the National Assembly.
Finance Bill 2024
The bill would be voted through its third reading with 195 members voting in favour before protesters stormed Parliament, forcing MPs to use an emergency exit tunnel that joins the Senate and links it to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
During the invasion, several protesters were shot dead within the precincts of Parliament and others were severely injured.
The protesters would go ahead to set a section of Parliament on fire and destroy furniture and glass panels in the building before making away with the maze.
President Ruto declined to assent to the bill, saying it was unpopular and that Parliament should reconsider it to delete all the clauses.
The Finance Bill sought to add taxes to all imported diapers and sanitary pads, saying the move would promote development by supporting local manufacturers.
The other areas of concern were the motor vehicle tax as well as the raising of taxes on financial service charges.
MPs are currently on recess and will reconvene on July 23, 2024, if a special sitting is not convened to discuss the recommendations of Ruto.
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