National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro has continued to rubbish claims that he bribed some Azimio MPs to skip voting on the Finance Act, 2023.
Speaking on Monday, Osoro said he was misunderstood over his statement of having a 'bowl of soup' with opposition MPs during the voting exercise last month.
"My words were very simple because we overstayed in the House during voting, in Parliament until 12 am, mid-way we could get out and have some soup together, and whoever was present could pay," Osoro said during an interview at Citizen Tv.
"At some point, I paid for the tea. It is normal."
The UDA MP also affirmed that he was certain that the Finance Act would pass without any MP being compromised.
Osoro said he knows the government he serves and that they have the numbers as compared to the Opposition.
In his position as the Majority Whip, the MP said that he participated in the making of the government and he believes and supports everything that comes from it.
"Even before the Bill was brought to the House, I said the government will not lose and I was sure of that. I had convinced my members to vote in support of the Finance Act because I believe in it," Osoro said.
The Finance Act, 2023 had 87 proposed amendments, some of which were approved last month when the National Assembly debated them into the night.
Key among the proposals passed was the 16 per cent value-added tax on fuel, up from 8 per cent.
184 MPs largely from Kenya Kwanza supported the Bill, whereas 88 MPs from Azimio opposed the amendment.
On June 26, President William Ruto assented to the Finance Bill 2023 after lawmakers approved tax measures aimed at raising the Sh3. 6 trillion budget.
However, the court suspended the implementation of the Act pending determination of the matter.
But the Treasury CS through lawyer Githu Muigai has asked the court to set aside the orders.