- The 13 amendments were among the 37 that had been filed by 31 MPs ahead of the committee stage for the Finance Bill, 2024.
- Speaker Moses Wetang'ula said the amendments were filed by individual members and not on behalf of the coalition.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Azimio-allied MPs have withdrawn all the amendments that had been lined up to the Finance Bill, 2024.
The 13 amendments were among the 37 that had been filed by 31 MPs ahead of the committee stage for the Finance Bill, 2024.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said the amendments were withdrawn after a meeting of Azimio MPs on Monday because they were an exercise in futility.
"You must take cognizant of the huge numbers of amendments that have been withdrawn and it is good to put that into context," Wandayi said.
"For the benefit of the members of the public, you can see these amendments that have been dropped emanated from the Azimio coalition as a result of extensive consultations."
The MP said that Azimio came to "this painful conclusion because we felt it was to be in vain and a futile exercise to sanitise the exercise which we have all along declared as a fraud."
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula said the amendments were filed by individual members and not on behalf of the coalition.
"The amendments withdrawn are not your amendments, none of them belongs to you," Wetang'ula told Wandayi.
"I have not received any communication from anyone who has withdrawn their amendments that they have asked you to speak on their behalf."
The MPs are considering every clause of the Bill in the committee of the whole.
The lawmakers will rise at the time prescribed earlier for their amendments during the committee of the whole to formally withdraw them.
Among the MPs who have lined up amendments to the Finance Bill include Peter Salasya (Mumias East), Paul Nzengu (Mwingi North), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), John Wanjiku (Kiambaa), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Peter Kaluma ( Homabay Town).
Others are Mukunji Gitonga (Manyatta), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), Farah Yussuf (Wajir West), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Anthony Oluoch(Mathare), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) and Irene Mayaka (Nominated).
Others are Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Wakili Edward (Gatanga), Kwenya Thuku (Kinangop), Michael Muchira (Ol Joro Orok), Danson Mwashako(Wundanyi), Joshua Kimilu(Kaiti),Rindikiri Mugambi (Buuri),Mary Maingi (Mwea), Patrick Makau(Mavoko) and Mwingi West MP Charles Ngusya.
Those to move amendments include Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Leah Sankaire(Kajiado County), Martin Owino(Ndhiwa), T.J. Kajwang’ (Ruaraka ), Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Wilberforce Oundo(Funyula), Wanjiku Muhia(Kipipiri) and Makali Mulu(Kitui Central).
Yatta MP Robert Basil and Umulkher Harun (nominated) are also lined up to move amendments to the Finance Bill on Tuesday.
Suba South's Millie Odhiambo (ODM) filed a notice to the clerk to withdraw her initial amendments.