- According to Gachagua, the MPs were only doing their jobs, and they should not be punished or harassed by the people.
- He insisted that governments are formed by parties, which elected leaders must always support in any program brought to parliament.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended Members of Parliament who voted 'Yes' for the Finance Bill, 2024.
According to Gachagua, the MPs were only doing their jobs, and they should not be punished or harassed by the people.
He insisted that governments are formed by parties, which elected leaders must always support in any program brought to parliament.
He also reminded the youths that the MPs have the freedom to exercise their right to vote.
"I want to ask Kenyans not to punish Members of Parliament for the stand that they took. A government is formed by a political party and once a government has a program in Parliament and decides it is good for the people," Gachagua said.
"Members of Parliament from that party must tow the line. I don't want you to punish our MPs, they just did what is right in terms of our political formation."
He called on Kenyans not to attack properties owned by these leaders.
The DP noted that they were just doing what the government had instructed them to do, as party members.
Gachagua added that now that the government has done the right thing and given to the people's demands, it's now all in the past.
"Allow them to be, to support their government because that is why they were elected as members of the government party. Let us not harass them, let us not abuse them, let us not attack their properties they were just doing what the government wanted and now that the government has decided to do the right thing, we should close that chapter," he said.
The Deputy President further said that should anyone have a problem with any MP, they must wait for the next general election to take action.
"I empathise with Members of Parliament for their traumatic experiences in and out of parliament. I want to urge our young people that they don't have to destroy property to be heard," Gachagua said.
The Finance Bill 2024 had been a source of contention, with protesters decrying it as a burden on Kenyans already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
The bill, passed Tuesday, saw a total of 195 members voting to pass it and 106 rejected it.
Angry Kenyans then took to the streets where they blamed MPs for failing to represent them accordingly.
This saw them break into Parliament where they vandalised and looted before they left.