- Speaker said the committee is expected to report to the House at the next regular sitting upon its resumption.
- The President recommended deletion of all clauses of the Bill.
Image: MOSES WETANG'ULA/X
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangúla has referred President William Ruto's Memorandum of Referral, in regard to the withdrawal of Finance Bill 2024 to the Committee on Finance.
Ruto, on June 26, referred the proposed law back to the National Assembly for reconsideration with reservations recommending the deletion of all clauses of the Bill.
Wetangúla said the committee expected to expeditiously commence consideration of the President’s memorandum, its reservations and recommendations and report to the House at the next regular sitting upon its resumption.
“The Clerk is directed to circulate this notification to all members of the National Assembly and accordingly facilitate the committee to undertake the exercise,” the Speaker said in his communication.
He added that the clerk is also directed to prepare the necessary message for formal conveyance to the House upon its resumption.
The National Assembly considered and passed the Finance Bill, 2024 on June 25, 2024 which Wetangúla presented to the President for assent.
According to Article I I5(4)(a) of the Constitution, any MP ember desirous of negating the President's reservations or reviving any of the 69 Causes of the Bill is required to marshal the votes of at least two-thirds of the Members of the National Assembly, being 233 Members.
Ruto formally wrote to Parliament proposing the deletion of the contentious Finance Bill, 2024.
The President, in the memorandum drawn shortly after he announced the withdrawal of the Bill, cited widespread protests against the piece of legislation.
"In exercise of the powers conferred to me by Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, and having reservations on the content of the Bill in its entirety, I decline to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024, and refer the Bill for reconsideration by the National Assembly with the recommendation for deletion of the clauses thereof," the memorandum seen by the Star reads.