Kenyans on social media have expressed different reactions following an apology by Embakasi East Babu Owino after he failed to vote on Finance Bill, 2023.
On Wednesday, Babu Owino apologized to Kenyans for being absent during the voting of the proposed Finance Bill, 2023 He said he was preparing for his court case.
"I was not present today (Wednesday) in Parliament because my case has been scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) in court for a defense hearing and was with my lawyer," he said.
The second term MP made it clear that he was against the Finance Bill and could not support it even if his party leader could have said so.
Kenyans, however, reacted differently, some calling him a sell-out while others stood with him.
“ Your Twitter vote doesn't count. But thank you for your cowardly vituperation,” one Seronoi Cheison said.
“You've let us down, you've let Raila down. We'll never trust you,” another Twitter user said.
“The MPs in this country do not always vote in favour of those elected them to parliament, they instead vote in pleasing the president. These MPs don't care about the suffering citizens, they care contracts and tenders to themselves,” Quraish Habashow said.
Members of Parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of the Finance Bill 2023, paving the way for its determination by the committee of the whole House.
It followed an intense debate in Parliament to discuss the proposed tax measures which 176 MPs voted to endorse at the second reading stage while 81 MPs out of 257 opposed.
The Bill moved to the committee of the whole House where members will have a chance to push through their amendments.
Next week, the Committee will consider the Bill, clause by clause, and take a vote on each of the clauses.
Here are some more reactions to Babu Owino's apology;