Millicent Omanga has asked National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to recall members of Parliament from recess to expedite the completion of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.
In a statement on X, Omanga said the discussion around the Finance Bill 2024 should be done with after President William Ruto declined to assent to it following widespread public dissatisfaction.
“The speaker of the National Assembly should call for a special sitting immediately for parliament to dispense with the rejected Finance Bill,” Omanga said.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Ruto wrote a presidential declaration of referral to the Speaker of the National Assembly to begin the reconsideration of the bill to delete all clauses.
Parliament voted on Wednesday to go for recess and resume session on July 23, 2024.
Ruto writes to speaker
“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.
Ruto said he had come to the decision after immense pressure from members of the public who expressed opposition to the bill.
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Parliament passed the controversial bill after 195 members of Parliament voted in favour against 106 who voted to reject the bill.
The bill was adopted with amendments including the scrapping of the motor vehicle tax, and removal of VAT on bread and financial services but other taxes like the Railway development levy remained at 2.5 per cent on customs value and 3.5 per cent for the import declaration fee.
However, Ruto noted that the public was dissatisfied regardless of the amendments made by Parliament to relieve the public from tax burdens.
In record time, Parliament hurriedly passed the bill and presented it the next day for Presidential assent.
The refusal by Ruto to assent to the bill came after protesters went through several security rings to access Parliament and destroy part of the buildings.
MPs had to be evacuated through an emergency tunnel connecting the two legislative houses and connecting to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
Protests continued in major cities in the country with Nairobi experiencing a major police and military presence along the roads leading towards State House.
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