Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda has called upon President William Ruto to initiate significant changes by advocating for the removal of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and a reshuffle of the cabinet.
During a media interview on July 2, 2024, Tabitha revealed that she had two suggestions on how Ruto would navigate the situation of uncertainty following weekly protests that have been ongoing since the tabling of Finance Bill 2024.
Senator Tabitha pointed out that this was not the time for legislators to focus on who voted for or against the Fiance Bill 2024, but rather to understand what the main issue was.
According to Tabitha, her top concern that needed to be tackled was for Ruto to reshuffle his cabinet. She added that even though she was part of the government, she believed a reshuffle was important.
“Shida yenye tuko nayo saa hii sio ya Azimio ama ya Kenya Kwanza, ni shida ya wakenyua sisi wote. Hii shida yote inataka tuiangalie kama viongozi na wananchi. We need to ask ourselves what is the bigger problem. Ile shida ambayo iko ni action that needs to be taken. Na mimi actions zenye nataka kusema ni mbili…Jambo la kwanza rais to reshuffle cabinet, mimi niko upande wa serikali na ninakubaliana na reshuffle. Na raisi alikubaliana vizuri akasema it is okay we give him time,” Tabitha remarked.
Further, Tabitha urged all of the Kenyan members of parliament to unite once they return from recess with a common goal of advocating for the elimination of CDF.
“Jambo la pili, na ni nataka wabunge waweze kuungana na mimi hapa, they need to scrap, watoe CDF kabisa. Waingie pale wakitoka recess na hiyo particular agenda. Hakuna cha nani alipigia no ama yes, ama ni nani wa azimio ama Kenya Kwanza, waingie wakishirikiana pamoja na onyeshe ishara ya uongozi na kuondoa CDF. Hiyo ikondolewa hizi shida zingine mnaona zitaisha. Hiyo pesa ikuwe diverted na imalize hiyo deni,” Tabitha added.
By reshaping the composition of the cabinet, and advocating for the removal of the CDF, the senator envisions that the country will be able to manage the debt crisis since certain functions will be moved to both county and national governments.
“Developments zifanywe at national government level, county governments pia ziko zifanye mambo yao. That is why Gen Z bado wako pale, for those actions. So wabunge msimame msime watoe CDF, tukifanya hiyo we are okay,” Taitha noted.
