• Parliament Road was closed to motorists, access only allowed to pedestrians.
• Within Parliament's precincts, hawk-eyed officers stood guard.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Opposition MPs on Thursday staged a mass walkout from the National Assembly chambers minutes after Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u started presenting the budget estimates.
The Azimio legislators started booing seconds into the speech.
They then stormed out of the plenary in protest, disrupting the proceedings for some minutes.
The walk out was peaceful. Only pro-government legislators were left and the CS proceeded to read the budget statement.
Azimio has been opposed to the budget, which they claim is going to add to the suffering of millions of Kenyans.
Opposition chief Raila Odinga on Wednesday promised to unveil a parallel 'people’s budget' drawn mostly from its 2022 manifesto.
Speaking to journalists after the walkout, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi said their sitting through the budget reading would have sanitised an illegitimate process.
“We have walked out on Prof Njuguna Ndung’u in order not to sanitise a flawed process. It is also a protest against the punitive tax regime that seeks to impoverish Kenyans,” he said.
“We want to inform the whole nation that we have walked out on the person of the National Treasury Njuguna Ndung’u to protest the arbitrary manner in which the debate and vote on Finance Bill was taken yesterday, we feel it was rushed to achieve predetermined objectives.”
Wandayi added, “We have walked out in solidarity with vast majority of poor Kenyans whose plight has been ignored by Kenya Kwanza in pushing through the draconian Finance Bill 2023.”
This was the first budget under President William Ruto’s administration who assumed office in September last year.
Security was beefed up around Parliament Buildings since early morning, with movements around the facility restricted.
Uniformed and plainclothes security officers were strategically positioned to ensure everything went as planned.
Police mounted barriers along Parliament Road and only vehicles carrying dignitaries were allowed to access the route.
The entire Parliament Road linking City Hall Way to Harambee Avenue remained inaccessible to motorists.
Only pedestrians were allowed access.
Police in anti-riot gear were strategically stationed at the entrance to Parliament Buildings, on Harambee Avenue and Parliament Road.
Within Parliament's precincts, hawk-eyed police officers stood guard.
Entry to Parliament Buildings was restricted to only MPs, high-ranking government officials, envoys and accredited individuals.
Anyone entering Parliament was thoroughly frisked before being allowed in.
The Cabinet Secretary made his way from the Treasury building minutes after 2pm.