• Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has said that Members of Parliament would vote NO on the contentious Finance Bill were it not for a keen eye from President William Ruto
• The Kenya Kwanza MPs are acting under duress following President Ruto’s pronouncement that he will keep an eye on the voters
• The 2023/2024 budget is set to be tabled before Parliament on June 15
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has opined that Members of Parliament would vote NO on the contentious Finance Bill were it not for a keen eye from President William Ruto.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo
According to Senator Maanzo, the Kenya Kwanza MPs are acting under duress following President Ruto’s pronouncement that he is keeping a close watch on the bill’s progression, waiting to see who will vote to shut down the bill.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Tuesday, Maanzo said that if the voting is conducted through a secret ballot then all MPs will oppose it since they do not concur with the proposal.
“If it (Bill) goes on a secret ballot no one will vote for this bill. But because the President is saying ‘I am watching you vote NO I deal with you on the ground’. There is a big problem there, it’s like slavery,” he said.
Senator Maanzo added that Kenya Kwanza leaders are equally flummoxed by the proposals highlighted in the bill alongside Kenyans and Azimio la Umoja leaders.
“The people are ahead of the Members of Parliament, Azimio, Kenya Kwanza and they are very upset,” he said.
It is in the same breath, Maanzo added, that they are backing Busia County Senator Okiya Omtatah’s case which is challenging some sections of the bill.
In the case, Omtatah argues that some sections threaten the right to property, access to justice and violate the Constitution in general.
“There are very many brilliant Kenyans who have analyzed this bill and that is why we have supported Omtatah’s petition including quite a number of legislators and lawyers,” said Maanzo.
“There are six points of illegalities and if they don’t correct it on the floor of the House. We want Kenyans to watch which MPs are betrayers of the people who elected them.”
Meanwhile, the Azimio coalition has signalled resumption of anti-government protests if the controversial bill 2023 is not reviewed.
The 2023/2024 budget is set to be tabled before Parliament on June 15.
